NAY PYI TAW : The boxing tournament at the 27th SEA Games has become chaotic after allegations of biased judging and injuries to fighters.
Wutthichai Masuk, right, suffers a cut against Ye Naing.
Thailand complained of foul play after hot favourite Tassamalee Thongjan crashed out in the semi-finals of the women's 57kg division yesterday.
The three-time defending champion lost to Nesthey Petecio of the Philippines to the surprise of the spectators at Wunna Theiki Indoor Stadium after three judges all gave Petecio a 39-37 win.
"I do not think I lost. The fans know it," said Tassamalee, of Amnat Charoen, who won silver the 2010 Asian Games.
"I did not do well in the first round but was in complete control in the next two rounds."
In her fifth SEA Games appearance, Tassamalee had to settle for bronze.
Thai officials claimed the result was designed to pave the way for Myanmar's New Ni to win gold.
"It's fixed," Thailand's assistant manager Somyot Julsen said.
"Without Tassamalee, it will be easier for the Myanmar boxer to win gold."
But there were no problems in the 60kg division as Thailand's Sudaporn Seesondee defeated Myanmar's Khine Khin Oo 40-33, 40-36, 40-35 to meet Thi Duyen of Vietnam in the final.
Peamwilai Laopeam secured her place in the semi-finals by beating Le Thi Bang of Vietnam 37-38, 38-37, 38-37. She next faces Irish Magno of the Philippines for a final berth.
Meanwhile, while the boxing tournament seems more exciting thanks to the new rules, more male participants have been injured fighting without headguards.
For the first time at the SEA Games, the 10-point scoring system is being used in both the men's and women's competitions while the men are fighting without headguards under the new regulations introduced by the International Boxing Association (Aiba).
Aziz Kozhambetov, executive director of the Asian Boxing Confederation, told the Bangkok Post in a recent interview that without headguards competition would be more exciting and fighters must be more skillful to avoid punches.
Unfortunately, the first day of the boxing tournament in Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday saw several boxers suffer cuts due to head clashes.
In the first fight of the tournament, Mg Nge of Myamar was declared the winner after a head clash with defending champion Julio Bria of Indonesia in the 52kg class.
The contest ended in less than two minutes after both fighters had bloody cuts to their heads and Bria was declared the loser because his injury was more serious.
Not surprisingly, the Indonesian camp was infuriated by the decision.
Thai hopeful Wutthichai Masuk suffered a cut below his left eye after being headbutted by Myanmar's Ye Naing in their 64kg bout on Sunday.
The Thai went on to win on points but the injury could affect his quest for gold.
"The cut worries me," he said.
"Fighting without headguard, you have to be more careful."
