Paris: Jutamas Jitpong was the only Thai boxer who won a first round bout on Saturday at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris as Weerapon Jongjoho and Thananya Somnuek both fell at the first hurdle.
Jutamas defeated Sara Cirkovic of Serbia 4-1 in the women's 54kg round of 32 bout to give the Thai boxing contingent a good start on Saturday at North Paris Arena in Villepinte.
However, Weerapon was no match for Cristian Javier Pinales as he lost to the Dominican fighter 5-0 in their men's 80kg round of 32 clash.
Thanaya's defeat was a much closer affair as she was pipped by Donjeta Sadiku of Kosovo 3-2 in their women's 60kg round of 32 bout.
Jutamas will face a Moroccan fighter in the last 16 on Tuesday.
Another Thai fighter Banjong Sinsiri, who received a first round bye, will face Jesus Nazaret Cova Romero of Venezuela in the round of 16 of the men's 63.5kg event on Monday.
Meanwhile, with Kunlavut Vitidsarn and mixed doubles stars Dechapol Puavaranukroh and Sapsiree Taerattanachai winning earlier in the day, other Thai shuttlers concluded the first day of action with three more victories on Saturday.
Left-hander Supanida Katethong defeated Juliana Viana Vieira of Brazil 21-16, 21-19 in their opening Group D match of the women's singles event at Porte de la Chapelle Arena in Paris.
Men's doubles pair Supak Jomkoh and Kittinupong Kedren defeated French duo Toma Junior Popov and Christo Popov of France 21-14, 21-19 in Group B.
Women's doubles hopes Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai were also up against French opponents and they were forced to dig deep before prevailing over Margot Lambert and Anne Tran 12-21, 21-13, 21-15 in Group D.
Thailand's Jongkolphan Kititharakul, left, and Rawinda Prajongjai in action against France's Margot Lambert and Anne Tran in their women's doubles group match. PR
Cyclist Phetdarin Somrat finished 34th in the women's individual time trial event, rower Premanut Wattananusith came sixth in the men's singles sculls heat while table tennis player Orawan Paranang lost 4-3 to Margaryta Pesotska of Ukraine in the women's singles round of 64.
Xie's dream debut
Xie Yu of China struck gold in a dream Olympic debut, displaying the poise of a veteran in the men's 10-metre air pistol event on Sunday.
After China won the 10-metre air rifle mixed team event on Saturday, Xie (240.9) mined another gold from the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, beating Italian Federico Nilo Maldini (240) who took the silver medal.
Paolo Monna (218.6) claimed bronze with clear daylight between the top three and rest of the field.
"If I hadn't won, this may have been my biggest regret," Xie told reporters.
Xie carried a wafer-thin cushion of 0.4 going into the final shot after Maldini had reduced the gap in the elimination section.
The Italian lost his momentum at the last minute, however, and stood gazing at the floor after signing off with a modest 9.5.
Xie scored 10 to seal the gold and flashed a shy smile as his teammates in bright red-and-white erupted in the stands.
Convicted rapist booed
Fans booed a Dutch beach volleyball player convicted of raping an underaged girl as he played his first match at the Paris Olympics, where his controversial selection has put the sport in the spotlight.
Steven Van der Velde, now aged 29, was convicted in 2016 of raping an underage girl and sentenced to four years in prison.
He walked onto centre court with teammate Matthew Immers on Sunday morning to cheers and applause, with many orange-clad Dutch fans standing to clap the pair.
When he was introduced individually over the loudspeaker, however, there was a loud chorus of boos from the crowd.
Van der Velde's selection has caused outrage among women's and sports safety groups.
Officials said the player would be separated from his teammates, not stay in the athletes' village, and forbidden from speaking to media.
Ju'Riese Colon, chief executive of the US-based Center for SafeSport, said she was "deeply concerned that anyone convicted of sexually assaulting a minor could participate" in the Olympics.
"With teams from around the world convening in Paris, many of which include minor athletes, this sends a dangerous message that medals and money mean more than their safety," she said.
Seine pollution
The first training session for triathletes at the Paris Olympics was scrapped on Sunday due to pollution in the River Seine, organisers said.
Following a meeting "on the water quality" and tests, "a joint decision was taken to cancel the swimming part of the triathlon orientation," a Paris 2024 and World Triathlon statement said.
The River Seine was declared clean enough for swimming in tests from mid-July, but doubts remained as to whether the waters would be fit for a competitive event.
"Paris 2024 and World Triathlon reiterate that the priority is the health of the athletes. The analysis carried out on Sunday in the Seine showed water quality levels that... do not present sufficient guarantees to allow the event to take place," the statement said.
Organisers blamed rain in recent days and said they were "confident" water quality would improve enough before the triathlon competition is due to start on Tuesday. Bangkok Post/agencies
