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BANGKOK, Nov 3: A granddaughter of Thailand's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej will compete in the Asian Games as a badminton player, and has fair crack at winning a medal.
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana has been selected as part of the Thai team heading to the event in Doha from December 1-15, where they are aiming to beat the 14 gold medals they scooped in Busan four years ago.
Nariratana, daughter of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, won a gold on her debut outing in the women's team event at the Southeast Asian Games last year, although competition in Doha will be much tougher with China in action.
Suravudh Maharom, chairman of Thailand's Athletes Preparatory Committee, said they were targeting between 15 and 18 gold medals in the Qatari capital, in sports such as boxing, weightlifting and badminton.
"The Asian Games are not as easy as the Southeast Asian Games where we have been dominating for many years," he said.
"There are so many stronger athletes in the continent.
"China, Korea and Japan have been formidable and it will be a Herculean task to defeat them or overtake them in the medals standings.
"But I'm confident that we will win gold medals in wushu, sepaktakraw, weightlifting, boxing and taekwondo. We will fare much better than Busan."
Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana has been selected as part of the Thai team heading to the event in Doha from December 1-15, where they are aiming to beat the 14 gold medals they scooped in Busan four years ago.
Nariratana, daughter of Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn, won a gold on her debut outing in the women's team event at the Southeast Asian Games last year, although competition in Doha will be much tougher with China in action.
Suravudh Maharom, chairman of Thailand's Athletes Preparatory Committee, said they were targeting between 15 and 18 gold medals in the Qatari capital, in sports such as boxing, weightlifting and badminton.
"The Asian Games are not as easy as the Southeast Asian Games where we have been dominating for many years," he said.
"There are so many stronger athletes in the continent.
"China, Korea and Japan have been formidable and it will be a Herculean task to defeat them or overtake them in the medals standings.
"But I'm confident that we will win gold medals in wushu, sepaktakraw, weightlifting, boxing and taekwondo. We will fare much better than Busan."
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