The athletes of the Thailand’s national boxing squad have begun their training at Bonanza camp in Pakchong this week in preparation for many upcoming events including the London Games in 2012.

About 33 athletes, including female and youth boxers, of the various national squads have arrived at the Bonanza facility in Pakchong. Four of the Beijing Games athletes, Non Boonjumnong, Amnat Ruenroeng, Worapoj Petchkhoom, and Sailom Adi, are already at the Bonanza, while Angkhan Chomphuphuang and two-time Olympic medalist Manus Boonjumnong will shortly follow their teammates there.

Coach Kammanit Nareerak said General Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (ABAT) has specified that the training at Bonanza will be of “aerobics styles”, which is a long-term preparation of the body in according to the sports science as well as weight training to build strength and learning of defense and offense techniques.

Thailand’s boxing association is planning to recruit rising stars from the upcoming national amateur boxing championship tournaments for the London Games in 2012.

According to General Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (ABAT), the national amateur boxing championship tournaments, 29th for the men’s boxing and 8th for the women’s, to be held at the national stadium in Bangkok on February 6-12, will be used by ABAT as a recruiting ground for new athletes for the Olympic in 2012 and SEA Games in Laos in December this year.

“This amateur championship is crucial as it will not only develop the male and female amateur boxers of the country, but will also help select and recruit for the national boxing squads,” said the general.

Boxer Manus Boonjumnong will fight in four international tournaments per year in preparation for the London Games in 2012, where he aims to win his third Olympic medal, says Thai amateur boxing chief.

General Taweep Jantararoj, president of the Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (ABAT), said he will send two-time Olympic medalist Manus to compete in four different international amateur events this year in preparation of the London Games in 2012.

National Olympic boxing athlete Non Boonjumnong will fight in the World Cup at Moscow, Russia, next week despite the blockades at the two Bangkok airports, says Amateur Boxing Association of Thailand (ABAT).

The organizers initially wanted Thai Olympic medalists Somjit Jongjohor and Manus Boonjumnong in the World Cup on December 9-14, but Somjit has retired, while Manus was recovering from an injury. Non, who is Manus’s younger brother, was instead selected to replace the two medalists.