Wandee Kam-eaim, Thailand's bronze medallist in Athens Games, will lead the country's weightlifting team to Olympic Games in Beijing as the seven-member squad is expected to win at least one medal.

The seven-member team, with three men and four women, will attend several weight categories in Beijing.

In the women's team, Wandee and Prapawadee Charoenrattanatarakul will attend in the 53kg division, Premsiri Boonpitak and Pensiri Laosirikul in the 48kg. While the men's lifters are Pongsak Maneethong in the 56kg, Phaisarn Hansawong in the 62kg and Sittisak Supaluk in the 69kg.

Bussaba Yodbangtoey, president of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association (TAWA), was quoted by the Bangkok Post on Wednesday as saying that the weightlifting team is not as strong as the one in Athens because gold medallists Udomporn Polsak and Pawina Thongsuk have since retired.

However, she said those in charge of the sport have been struggling to find replacements.

She said Premsiri and Pensiri could be the best bets but that they would face uphill task against Chinese lifters.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)