Thai Taekwondo Star Wins Bronze After Father's Death
Thai taekwondo athlete Im Patcharakorn Poolkit won a bronze medal in the women's under-49kg category at the Asian Games after learning of her father's death from a brain hemorrhage just days before the competition. She chose to stay and compete despite her grief, securing Thailand's first taekwondo medal at the Games. After her match, she broke down in tears and was comforted by her coaches.
Im Patcharakorn Poolkit, the Thai taekwondo athlete who won the bronze medal in the women's under-49kg division, spoke through tears about losing her father during the training camp before the Asian Games. She reached the semifinals before losing to China's Ma Jingyue, securing the bronze and becoming the first taekwondo medalist for Thailand at this edition of the Games. However, she learned of her father's death from a cerebral hemorrhage just one or two days after arriving for the camp, and chose not to return home fearing her mental state would suffer and hinder her duty to the nation. The 20-year-old said, "My father passed away from a brain hemorrhage. I found out about the news while I was training at the camp around the 23rd or 24th. I was shocked and heartbroken; I couldn't believe it was real." (She decided not to go back to Thailand) because she feared her mental state would worsen. Afterward, Patcharakorn could not continue speaking and broke down in loud sobs until her coaching staff came to comfort her.
