Thailand's Muay Thai star Panphet Pandungchai played French rival Anthony Durand in the 73 kg event on the 15th, and the latter knocked the former down with a swinging elbow strike, causing Pan Dongchai's head to hit the floor and fall into a coma. After 8 days of rescue, the Thai player still died of severe cerebral hemorrhage on the evening of the 23rd. Durand also blamed himself for learning the bad news, and then announced his retirement online, promising to help Pan Dongchai's family survive the financial difficulties.
According to Reports by Thai media Nation and The Daily Star, the 25-year-old Pan Dongchai has represented the Thai national team in international competitions such as the Southeast Asian Games and the World Championships to win many medals. He competed in the men's 73 kg event at the Tupatmi Air Base Stadium on the 15th, against Durand from France. The two sides had come and gone in the first 4 rounds, but with only 1 minute and 18 seconds left before the end of the fifth round of the final round, Pan Dongchai was hit in the jaw by Durand's slalom elbow strike, causing him to fall into a coma after hitting the floor with his head. Although Pan Dongchai was subsequently rushed to the hospital for rescue, he still died on the evening of the 23rd after 8 days in a coma. The doctor pointed out that Pan Dongchai's brain was severely bleeding after the impact and fell into an "irreversible brain death state".
France's Durand blamed himself for the bad news, and soon he announced his retirement in a post on his Facebook account, "This game is the 28th battle of my career, but it will also be my last battle, I will not return to the ring, I am really sorry." 」 He also said that even though Pan Dongchai may have suffered brain damage in the past fierce battles, he still has a duty. He also hoped that Pan Dongchai would rest in peace and vowed to provide financial assistance to his mother, wife and daughter until they did not need it.