The fight was stopped in the eighth round after the doctor ruled the 33-year-old Thai as not in a condition to continue the fight due to a heavy cut above his right eyebrow. But he was adjudged the winner unanimously by the three judges, scoring 79-73, 78-74, 78-74. The wound was caused when the Japanese southpaw accidentally headbutted Wanheng, leading to blood flowing from his eyebrow, prompting the referee to step in.

The Japanese, who had also lost their previous encounter in Nakhon Ratchasima province in 2017, also suffered a cut below his left eyebrow in round two but the doctor allowed him to go on despite two check-ups.

“I knew that I have a height disadvantage, so I tried not to counter-punch,” said Wanheng, whose 53 wins have all come on home soil.

“I’d love to fight in another country. I hope there will be some promoter interested to invite me to fight abroad as I’m already 33. But I believe I’m still physically tough,” added Wanheng.

His promoter, Virat Vachirarattanawong of Petchyindee Promotions, said: “We love to have him fight abroad but we’ve never been contacted by anyone. His next fight will be a compulsory one and we’d love to have an overseas title defence.”

A helicopter crash last October outside Leicester’s stadium killed Vichai and provoked an outpouring of grief in the city where he invested around £30 million ($37.8million) in 60 horses in recent years.

Vichai enjoyed some success — he had two winners on the day of the tragedy — but Bangkok is the first that has a serious chance of landing a prize in equine terms that would rival the prestige of Leicester’s fairytale Premier League title in 2016.

Fortunately for Bangkok’s trainer Andrew Balding — who has the majority of Vichai’s horses which run under the name of King Power Racing — Vichai’s younger son Khun Aiyawatt, known as Top, took up the reins.

King Power’s colours have been regular visitors to the winners enclosure this season and not just in England — Fox Champion won the German 2000 Guineas.

Bangkok, who Vichai paid £500,000 for at the sales two years ago, has impressed in both his victories this season and will face 12 other rivals for the first prize worth just over £900,000.

However, he has already beaten one of the main contenders Telecaster, who went on to win the key Derby trial the Dante Stakes, which persuaded trainer Hughie Morrison to pay £85,000 to supplement him for the race.

Balding — whose father Ian trained the great Mill Reef to win the 1971 Derby — is confident Bangkok can confirm his form with Telecaster and is the ideal sort of horse for the challenging undulating Epsom course.

“He’s a lovely horse to watch,” said Balding.

“He’s very well-balanced and looks just the type for the race.”

There will, though, be mixed emotions should he prevail on Saturday for the King Power team.

“It’s just so sad the Chairman (Vichai), as we all call him, is not around to see the fruits of his investment,” said Alastair Donald, King Power’s racing manager.

“The Chairman gave Bangkok a strong name because he stood out on pedigree.”

– ‘The crowning jewel’ –

Bangkok will have to contend with an astonishing seven runners from record-breaking Irish handler Aidan O’Brien’s stables.

The 49-year-old — who has often been criticised for flooding big races with several runners — will have his main hopes on Sir Dragonnet to deliver him a record equalling seventh Derby.

Sir Dragonnet, to be ridden by first choice stable jockey Ryan Moore, was also supplemented for the race after an impressive eight length victory in the Chester Vase earlier this month.

“We will not know if he was flattered in his trial at Chester, they went fast on soft ground,” Moore told The Daily Telegraph.

“He had to come around them all and was very impressive.

“Bookies favourite says a lot,” added the 35-year-old, who has won the Derby twice.

As great an exploit as O’Brien’s would be to welcome home a seventh Derby winner the roars might be louder if the other Irish contender crosses the line in front.

Madhmoon is trained by 86-year-old Kevin Prendergast, who will bid to succeed where his legendary father Paddy just fell short.

Prendergast Senior won every other English classic but he never fared better than runner-up, Alcaeus in 1960 and Meadow Court in 1965.

His son has not even had a placed horse — although he has rarely had a runner since he took up training in 1963 — but is sweet on his horse’s chances of breaking the Prendergast jinx.

“I can’t reverse it –- but I’d like to!” joked Prendergast to The Irish Times about his age.

“I’d be satisfied if it (winning the Derby) does happen. It would be the crowning jewel.”

The 25-year-old from Okinawa, playing in the tournament for the first time, showed no signs of stagefright on her way to a bogey-free total.

Higa launched a superb first round with a run of three consecutive birdies on the third, fourth and fifth holes before a further birdie at the ninth took her to four under at the turn.

Two more birdies on the back nine left her at six under, one shot clear of German rookie Esther Henseleit, another US Women’s Open debutant, and American amateur Gina Kim, who both posted five-under-par 66s.

“I didn’t expect much here, to come here and play that well,” Higa said.

“I came here on a Saturday, and since then, I not only golf, but I enjoy the life here. So I’ll keep enjoying it and enjoying it, and just come in to the golf course, and I just enjoyed 18 holes today.”

Higa said she had adjusted to the hot, humid conditions in South Carolina by limiting her practice.

“It’s really, really hot here, so I try not to waste my energy,” she said “So short practice and just staying calm and just get rest.”

Higa’s fellow debutant Henseleit was similarly flawless in her maiden US Women’s Open round, sinking five birdies and 13 pars en route to her bogey-free 66.

Meanwhile, defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn opened her campaign in dismal form following a 72. Thailand’s best results were even par achieved by Thidapa Suwannapura and Moriya Jutanugarn.

– Second chance –

It marked a fairytale debut for Henseleit, who feared her chances of playing in the tournament were over after she lost a playoff in qualifiers in London.

She was eventually handed a slot as one of the first alternates.

“Back at the qualifier in London, I was doing really well, and then I played some stupid bogeys in the end and lost in the playoff, and I felt like, OK, there’s no chance I could play here, and it was really sad,” Henseleit said.

“And when I got the message, like maybe 1 1/2 weeks ago, and, of course, I couldn’t imagine to like sit here and do that good.”

“I played good the last few months, but it’s kind of my first time playing in the US, and playing in such a good field. So it’s huge for me.”

Henseleit found herself sharing second with US amateur player Kim, who had a wild round which included six birdies, an eagle and three bogeys.

The 19-year-old from New Mexico’s highlight was a brilliant eagle on the 391-yard par four eighth.

Henseleit and Kim were one shot ahead of France’s Celine Boutier, who was in fourth after a four-under-par 67.

South Korea’s Kim Sei-young and Spain’s Azahara Munoz shared fifth after posting 68s, while a group of seven players were two under on 69.

Defending champion Ariya Jutanugarn meanwhile struggled to get to grips with the course, carding four bogeys and three birdies for a one-over-par 72.

World number one Osaka, bidding to add the French Open to her US and Australian Open titles, came back from a set and 2-4 down to defeat former world number one Victoria Azarenka 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Her win came on the back of being just two points from defeat in her tournament opener against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova.

The 21-year-old held her nerve, despite squandering two match points late in the deciding set, to secure a clash against Katerina Siniakova of the Czech Republic.

“I was lucky to have played Victoria twice before. I knew she had been playing well coming into the tournament,” said Osaka.

“It was an unfortunate second round draw for me so I am happy to win.”

Osaka finished the two-hour 50-minute encounter on Court Suzanne Lenglen with 52 winners and 43 unforced errors.

She becomes the first top seed to win her two opening matches at Roland Garros after losing the first set since Lindsay Davenport in 2005.

“She deserves to be where she is — she is very powerful and explosive,” said 29-year-old Azarenka.

Siniakova, the world number 42, also endured a marathon win, putting out Greek 29th seed Maria Sakkari 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (8/10), 6-3 in a three-hour 10-minute duel.

Siniakova had trailed 1-5 in the first set before surrendering a 5/2 lead in the second-set tiebreaker.

– Big daddy Djokovic –

Djokovic cruised into the last 32 for the 14th successive year, admitting it had been an emotional day playing for the first time in front of his four-year-old son.

Djokovic, bidding to become just the second man to hold all four Slams at the same time twice, cruised to a 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 win over Swiss lucky loser Henri Laaksonen.

Watching from the player’s box on Court Suzanne Lenglen was Djokovic’s son Stefan.

“It’s a very special day for me as it’s the first time in my life that I have played in front of my son,” said the 32-year-old Serb after a 23rd straight win at the Slams.

“He showed incredible patience to sit there for an hour and a half. Usually, he’s not that patient with tennis.”

Djokovic goes on to face Italian qualifier Salvatore Caruso, ranked 147, for a place in the last 16 in Paris.

Thursday was a lot more enjoyable for Djokovic than his last visit to Court Suzanne Lenglen in 2018 when he was knocked out in the quarter-finals by Marco Cecchinato.

Three-time French Open champion Williams thrashed Japanese qualifier Kurumi Nara to step up her bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title.

The 37-year-old cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 victory and next faces fellow American Sofia Kenin.

“I’m very serious when I play, but I’m happy,” said Williams.

A mouthwatering quarter-final clash with Osaka, who famously beat Williams in a dramatic 2018 US Open final, remains a possibility.

Williams hammered 10 aces and 36 winners past world number 238 Nara, who stands a mere 5ft 1in (1.55m).

Defending champion Simona Halep wasted three match points in the second set of her clash with Poland’s Magda Linette but eventually prevailed 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

Fourth seed Dominic Thiem overcame an entertaining challenge from Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik to reach the third round for the fourth straight year.

The Austrian fourth seed was facing a fifth set when trailing 5-2 in the fourth, but reeled off five straight games to win 6-3, 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 7-5.

World number 91 Bublik delighted the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd with his wide range of shots, including three underarm serves in the opening set.

The reward for Thiem is a clash against Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas who made it through when British number one Kyle Edmund retired with a knee injury at 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 2-1 down.

Fifth seeded German Alexander Zverev, a quarter-finalist in 2018, easily disposed of Swedish qualifier Mikael Ymer 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (7/3).

Juan Martin del Potro, the Argentine eighth seed and a two-time semi-finalist, needed treatment on his right knee against Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka in a three-hour 46-minute thriller.

But he still ground out a 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 win to progress, sending down 17 aces and 69 winners.

With star players sold and the proceeds, largely, squandered, Pochettino and Klopp were each tasked with restoring a sense of direction to clubs clearly wandering off course.

Only this year have Liverpool soared ahead, their 26-point advantage over Spurs in the Premier League testament to a team that turned last year’s Champions League run into a start not a finish. Now it is up to Tottenham to do the same.

When Pochettino was installed as head coach in the summer of 2014, to little excitement after the more illustrious Louis van Gaal chose Manchester United, he owed some gratitude to Liverpool.

Spurs had been humiliated by them 5-0 at White Hart Lane, which spelt the end for Andre Villas-Boas, and then thrashed 4-0 at Anfield, which all but ensured Tim Sherwood would not be a permament successor to the Portuguese manager.

By the time Pochettino arrived, Gareth Bale had gone, and so had his 100 million euro transfer fee, splashed on seven new signings, four of whom would be out by the end of Pochettino’s second summer.

“When I arrived at Tottenham I knew very well the challenge would be tough,” Pochettino said in January. “The club was in a different level. No one believed in us, no one believed the way we operated would bring success.”

– Demolition and rebuild –

Liverpool, a year behind, were mourning the loss of their star player too as Luis Suarez left for Spain and the 81 million euros earned was frittered away, leaving Klopp with his own clear-out job in 2015.

Fabio Borini, Sebastian Coates, Iago Aspas, Christian Benteke and Mario Balotelli were discarded by Liverpool. Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado, Etienne Capoue, Vlad Chiriches and Emmanuel Adebayor ditched by Tottenham.

After the demolition, came the rebuild. Pochettino brought in Dele Alli, Eric Dier, Toby Alderweireld and Son Heung-min. Klopp added Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Georginio Wijnaldum.

Piece-by-piece, each club’s identity sharpened again and Champions League qualification became not just a target, but the norm.

Yet while Tottenham briefly threatened to win the title in 2017, finishing closest to Chelsea on 86 points, they then dropped back, ending the last two seasons 23 and 27 behind Manchester City.

“We need to make that step,” Pochettino said this week. “We realise we can continue in this process, we can put Tottenham with the best teams in the world.”

Liverpool have pushed on. Aided by bigger budgets and free of the strains imposed on Spurs as a result of their new stadium, Klopp saw the moment after last year’s loss to Real Madrid and grabbed it.

In January 2018, they sold Philippe Coutinho for 160 million euros and used the money to strengthen a weak defence by signing Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk.

– Show of faith –

In the summer, they acquired an outstanding goalkeeper in Alisson Becker as well as greater strength in midfield with Fabinho and Naby Keita. In Coutinho, they sold a star but this time made it pay.

“When I first heard he wanted to go to Barcelona, I didn’t imagine we could be that good [without him],” Klopp said this month. “But we did it, it was good for both sides.”

Even winning the Champions League might not guarantee the futures of Tottenham’s own dithering gems, with Christian Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld still to commit and on contracts that are running out.

But if either, or both, decide to go, perhaps Spurs can take encouragement from Liverpool, by addressing problem areas at full-back, in central midfield and up front.

The club’s chairman Daniel Levy will need to answer Pochettino’s repeated calls for a show of faith, one that reflects the unwavering belief Pochettino enjoys from his players.

In that sense, a Champions League final could prove cathartic too, offering Spurs the chance to shake off their nearly-men tag, and assume fully the bold, brave, uncompromising mentality of their coach.

“It’s not that I didn’t believe him,” said defender Danny Rose this week. “I just didn’t understand.” For Tottenham, it could be a match that makes everything clearer.

Without even once raising his fists, the Kasetsart University engineering student knocked out his rival cold for a spot at December’s SEA Games in the Philippines. Despite having limited time practising the combat game, the 22-year-old senior employed a variety of techniques to win the Tekken7 final 3-1 in the National Qualifiers, which was part of the Thailand Games Expo by AIS eSports.

His prize was a berth on the national team for the first-ever SEA Games Esports competition.

“I’m thrilled, not just because I won this competition but because now I have the chance to promote Tekken7, which is not as widely played in Thailand as other Esports,” said the Bangkokian, who barely had time to train ahead of the tournament.

“I practised only a few times before the competition as I was tied up with school work in Kamphaeng Saen [in Nakhon Pathom]. So my strategy was to learn the techniques on YouTube,” added Nopparut, runner up in the 2017 Esports World Championship in Busan.

Nopparut Hempamorn and Rachawin Tanasoontorngoon in a face-off

According to Thailand Esports Federation (TESF) president Santi Lothong, no fewer than six Esports gold medals will be up for grabs in the SEA Games between November 30 December 10. The six categories are Tekken7 (Console), ROV (Arena of Valor, a smartphone game), Dota 2 (PC), Starcraft II (PC), Mobile Legends Bang Bang (smartphone) and another to be announced.

“Our hopes depend on Tekken7 and ROV. But the Philippines and Vietnam have strong players in these two categories. If we don’t have to compete against them in the final, the gold medals should belong to us,” said Santi.

Nopparut, meanwhile, is more concerned with making amends for his loss in the final round of the International Esports Federation event in the Philippines.

“I need to redeem my pride. I still have six months to get ready for the Games and I hope to perform my best in my SEA Games debut,” he said. The National Qualifiers are taking place from now on until July, with winners making up a Thailand team of 24 Esports players.

The National Qualifiers, co-organised by AIS and TESF, for other categories, will take place from now on until July. In the end, a team of 24 Esports athletes will be chosen to represent Thailand. Fans can catch up with all TESF competitions through AIS Play app.

A day after beating two-time Asian Games gold medallists South Korea, Thailand failed to maintain their form, succumbing to nerves as they fell 25-21 25-22 25-23 against the Belgians, who finished 13th in the League last year.

Thailand, with two wins against four defeats over two weeks of Pool 7 competition, will now return home for Pool 11, the third round of the League series, at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium from June 4-6. They face Bulgaria, Dominican Republic and Turkey on June 4, 5 and 6 in respectively.

Thailand coach Danai Sriwacharamaytakul said: “The Belgium players received the ball excellently today. We tried our best to mount a comeback but we were not able to defend against their attack.”

Thailand captain Nootsara Tomkom said: “I would like to congratulate Belgium on their win today. They put up a good display today and they overpowered us with their serves and attack.”

Belgium coach Gert Vande Broek said: “It is great to finish this game week with an important win for my team. I have huge respect for the Thailand team because I am such a big fan of the way they play volleyball, and I believe that their tactical combinations and the way they search for solutions in both attack and defence are great for the promotion of volleyball. Both teams are so evenly matched and 3-0 is really a tough scoreline for Thailand because both teams deserve to win today.”

Raphael Nadal 

The 37-year-old Federer held off a persistent world number 144 Otte, saving all four break points he faced in a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Next up for the 20-time Grand Slam title winner is a clash with Norway’s Casper Ruud who put out Italian 29th seed Matteo Berrettini 6-4, 7-5, 6-3.

“The Grand Slams are incredible. You can meet a player who qualified who (you) have not heard of before,” said Federer, who last played at Roland Garros in 2015.

“It was difficult, he really played a great match.”

Federer’s only French Open trophy came in 2009, and 10 years on he faces a daunting task to grab a second, potentially needing to beat Tsitsipas, Nadal and world number one Novak Djokovic in order to come out on top.

Nadal continued the strong start to his bid for a record-extending 12th title with a comfortable victory over German qualifier Yannick Maden.

The 32-year-old Nadal was in near total control against world number 114 Maden bar some nervy moments in the third set, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.

The 17-time major champion will play Belgian 27th seed David Goffin in the last 32.

“He (Maden) is a good player. He had already won four matches so was full of confidence,” said Nadal, whose Roland Garros win-loss record now reads an incredible 88-2.

The Spaniard wasted little time in wrapping up the first two sets on Court Suzanne Lenglen.

Maden may have briefly allowed himself to dream of an outrageous upset when he twice broke to level at 3-3 and then 4-4 in the third set, but Nadal put him back in his place with two quick games to seal victory.

Nadal appears to be hitting form at just the right time, after following three consecutive semi-final defeats on clay with the Italian Open title before arriving in Paris.

He finished the match with 43 winners against just 23 unforced errors.

– Bertens ‘shaking and no enegry’ –

Dutch women’s fourth seed Kiki Bertens retired from her match with Viktoria Kuzmova with illness while trailing 3-1, 40-15.

The 27-year-old, one of the favourites for the tournament, complained of shaking and a lack of energy before calling it quits, leaving Kuzmova with a third-round clash against British 26th seed Johanna Konta.

Greek star Tsitsipas did not have things all his own way against Bolivia’s Hugo Dellien on Court Simonne Mathieu, but managed to grind out a 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5 victory on his fourth match point.

The sixth seed, who beat Federer en route to the Australian Open semi-finals earlier this year, will take on Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic in his maiden appearance in the third round.

“Once I got myself into the right mindset, things seemed to flow my way,” said 20-year-old Tsitsipas.

Elsewhere on Wednesday, 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka showed that he can not be ruled out of contention with an impressive 6-1, 6-4, 6-0 success against in-form Chilean Cristian Garin.

The Swiss will play Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov next, after the former world number three beat 11th seed Marin Cilic in a marathon encounter 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.

– Svitolina gets walkover –

Ukrainian Elina Svitolina will face 2016 champion Garbine Muguruza in the third round after the ninth seed’s compatriot Kateryna Kozlova pulled out before their match with a viral infection.

Spain’s Muguruza, seeded 19th this year, eased to a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Swede Johanna Larsson.

Second seed Karolina Pliskova also clinched a straight-sets win, beating Slovakia’s Kristina Kucova 6-2, 6-2 to set up a tie with Croatian 31st seed Petra Martic.

Last year’s runner-up Sloane Stephens cruised through with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) win over Sara Sorribes Tormo.

The former US Open champion, who lost to Simona Halep in the 2018 French Open final, will play Slovenia’s Polona Hercog next after she edged out American Jennifer Brady 6-3, 6-7 (8/10), 6-4.

“I am really very happy but the trophy is very important for the club. The name of the player and coach is less important,” Sarri said after Chelsea blew away their London rivals in the second half to win 4-1.

The victory caps a season in which they finished third in the Premier League to secure a return to the Champions League before coming into this match. Despite that, Sarri has been strongly linked with a return to Italy this summer with Juventus.

“Of course the trophy is very important because we were in trouble in January and February and then we reacted.

“It is not easy to do that in the Premier League because the level is really very high.

“In the end we got into the Champions League, we played the final of the League Cup and lost on penalties to Manchester City, and in the Europa League we played 15 matches and won 12 and drew three so I think we deserved to win it.”

Eden Hazard scored twice, including from the penalty spot, after Olivier Giroud and Pedro Rodriguez had netted to put the Blues in control in Azerbaijan.

Sarri added: “It is very important for me but I am really very happy for my players.”

There was disappointment for Arsenal coach Unai Emery as his side suffered a bruising final defeat that also means they will miss out on the Champions League again next season for the third year running.

“We knew it was going to be difficult to take our first target,” Emery said, referring to Champions League qualification.

“In the Premer League we were closer to achieving that but we lost out by one or two points to the other teams like Tottenham and Chelsea.

“The Europa League was another way. We tried and we worked, but congratulations to Chelsea. They are now better than us.”

Emery had been hoping to win this competition for the fourth time after three consecutive victories with Sevilla from 2014 to 2016.

“In the first half we had possibilities, some chances to score, and didn’t concede a lot to them.

“In the second half our idea was the same, to carry on our game plan, but they scored the first goal and that was very important in this match.

“They have very good players, and we played with some young players. We knew it was going to be difficult.”

After losing their first warm-up to World Cup hosts France 3-0 in Orleans on Saturday, Thailand now face tune-ups against Belgium on Sunday and Kontich FC in Leuven next Wednesday.

The Thai team are in training at the OHL King Power training ground in Leuven, Belgium amid unfamiliar chilly temperatures of 13 degrees Centigrade. National coach Nuengruethai Srathongwien is trying to shore up weaknesses from the match with Les Bleus.

“We are still focusing on the defensive game but we also working out a pressing approach and midfield strategy,” said Nungruethai, who has been coach since the World Cup in Canada four years ago.

“Against Belgium, we hope to play better than the last game. We need to get a draw or even to win in order to gain confidence going into the World Cup,” added the manager.

The team also has to adjust to temperatures that are far cooler than the 30C they left behind in Thailand.

“The weather will be one factor that will affect us during the game. It’s quite cool and there is rain in the afternoon. The girls still have a few more days to get used to the conditions,” Nuengruethai added.

Thailand will make their second appearance in the World Cup after their 2015 debut ended at the group stage.

They kick off their campaign in Group F against world No 1 and defending champions USA on June 12 before taking on world No 9 Sweden on June 16 and Chile on June 21. – The Nation