Thai taekwondo exponent Chatchawal Khaolaor suffered an Olympic heartbreak after a knee injury has ruled him out of the Summer Games in London.
World champion Chatchawal, 24, got injured yesterday while competing in the men's fin weight semi-finals of the Asian Taekwondo Championship in Vietnam _ an Olympic qualifying event.
His place in the Thai Olympic team will now go to Pen-ek Karaket. The 22-year-old won a silver medal in the men's fly weight category in Vietnam.
The Taekwondo Association of Thailand have earned three spots for the London Games _ the men's 58kg, women's 49kg and women's 57kg.
Chatchawal was tipped to challenge Pen-ek and secure an Olympic place because he has been in great form lately.
In 2010, he won the gold medal in the Asian Games and was crowned champion at last year's World Taekwondo Championship in South Korea.
TAT president Pimol Sivikorn said that Chanatip Sornkham has also had a minor injury during the Vietnam tournament but will still be able to compete in London.
"Her injury is not as serious as Chatchawal's. It will only take a couple of weeks to recover."
Chanatip, who will compete in the women's 57kg division in London, earned the Olympic card at the qualifying tournament in the kingdom in November.
Rungsiya Nisaisom, who also earned the Olympic card for Thailand, will be guaranteed of a place in London if she performs well in Vietnam, added Pimol.
Rungsiya became the first Thai to win a world title at the World Taekwondo Championships in South Korea last year.
Taekwondo is regarded as one of the country's best hopes to land a medal in the Games between July 27-Aug 12.