Thai taekwondo world champion Rapatkorn Prasopsuk, who vowed to win the first gold medal for the host at the Universiade, suffered stunning exit in the first round of women's over 72 category on Thursday.

 

Rapatkorn, who won last year's World Cup Taekwondo Team Championships (WTF) and Taekwondo Asian Championships, said before the duel that she was confident in getting the gold.

 

Rapatkorn, the only Thai player to attend today's taekwondo competitions, received warm applause from home fans who kept cheering her during the event.

 

However, she fell behind at the beginning to her Spanish rival Leire Herboso and failed to get it back. She was beaten 2-0 and looked quite depressed after the match.

 

Nataphol Teepsuwan, secretary general of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand, said the Thai taekwondo delegation has set its goal at the Universiade to claim one gold.

 

"We still have competitive women players in the 47kg and 51kg categories," he said.

 

Wang Mengli from China, who had planned to compete in the over 72 category, changed her division into 72 kg to avoid Rapatkorn Prasopsuk. Wang eased past Magdelena Szczotka from Canada in the first round.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2007)