Thai top-hopeful boxer to be national flag bearer

BANGKOK, July 25 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's top seed boxer and gold medal winner Manus Boonjumnong may carry the national flag at the Olympics' opening ceremony after Badminton star Boonsak Posana, another candidate for the honor, earlier withdrew his name.

According to local reports on Friday, Boonsak, a handsome player who have the chance to get into the final game, has a match scheduled the very next day and was worried the effort would tire him.

Thana Chaiprasit, the head of the country's games team, said "Manus is currently our first choice for flag bearer at the opening ceremony on Aug. 8 since his first fight is not until August 10."

Manus, a 28-year-old light-welterweight champion, won a gold for Thailand in Athens Olympics.

Thana says General Yutthasak Sasiprapha, the president of Olympic Committee of Thailand, will lead the country's athletes and officials to Beijing when they have a royal audience with the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn at Chitlada Palace in Beijing.

Her Royal Highness will also attend the opening ceremony.