Olympic silver medallist Kaew Pongprayoon says he is quitting boxing to become a trainer.
Kaew has become very popular in Thailand after his 13-10 defeat against China's Zou Shiming in the 49kg final at the London Olympics.
Several Thais still believe he won the match and hail him as the ''true gold medallist.''
The 32-year-old will not have another chance at the next Games because the age limit for Olympic boxers is 34.
Initially, he said he would consider whether to continue fighting in other tournaments such as the SEA Games. But he said yesterday he was hanging up his gloves.
''I want to help train younger boxers,'' said Kaew of Kamphaeng Phet.
Meanwhile, Kaew, an army sergeant, will become a lieutenant.
The boxing team yesterday visited Army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha who ordered his promotion to become a lieutenant.
Gen Prayuth said Kaew was entitled to become a commissioned officer because he won an Olympic silver medal and holds a bachelor's degree.
In another development, former boxer Somluck Kamsing, who won Thailand's first-ever Olympic gold medal in 1996, said Thana Chaiprasit was the right man to lead the Thailand Boxing Association (TBA).
''I think he is the most suitable person for the job,'' said Somluck.
''He has been involved in sports for a long time. Everybody loves him.''
Thana is an executive of Osotspa, a long-time sponsor of Thai amateur boxing, he said.
Thana is quitting as Thailand's chief of delegation for international sporting events.
He has also received the backing of Maj Gen Charouck Areeratchakaran, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.
However, Thana himself said he wanted to take a rest before making a decision.
Gen Boonlert Kaewprasit has promised to step down as TBA president if his men failed to win gold at London Games.
'Taekwondo team missed target'
Pimol Srivikorn, president of the Taekwondo Association of Thailand, admitted yesterday the team failed to reach the target of winning at least a gold medal at the 2012 Olympics.
However, he told a press conference that the three Thai fighters in London _ Chanatip Sonkham, Pen-ek Karaket and Rangsiya Nisaisom _ all still have a future.
Chanatip won bronze in the women's 49kg, Pen-ek lost in a bronze medal match in the men's 58kg and Rangsiya crashed out in the women's 57kg first round.
Pimol said he had told Pen-ek to think again about his intention to retire.
Pen-ek said he really wanted to quit the sport as four years until the next Olympics is too long.
Chanatip said she wanted to be a navy officer.
National coach Choi Young Seok said Chanatip was better than Yaowapa Burapolchai who won bronze at the 2004 Olympics and Buttree Puedpong who took silver four years later.
Both Yaowapa and Buttree competed in the 49kg division and were trained by Choi.