Two Thai prisoners escape as guards watch Olympics Thai gold

BANGKOK (AFP) - Two criminal suspects strolled out of their cell at a Bangkok police station while their guards watched transfixed as Thailand clinched its first ever Olympic woman's gold, police said.

Police colonel Watchara Ngam-kham said the officer responsible had failed to notice the cell holding the two men was unlocked before joining a colleague Sunday night to watch Udomporn Polsak win gold in the 53kg (117 pound) women's weightlifting class.

One of the men, held for attempted murder, has been caught but the second man being investigated for theft remains on the run.

"He neglected his duty and will be investigated by a committee and will also face disciplinary and criminal charges if the second man is not re-arrested within 90 days," said Watchara.

A jubilant Thailand celebrated Udomporn's win Monday with the Thai premier promising a military posting, relatives taking Buddhist vows and many Thais partying well into the next day.

However, a refereeing blunder robbed Udomporn Polsak of what she thought was an Olympic record, red-faced weightlifting officials admitted.

Udomporn lifted 125.5kg in her final effort in the clean and jerk on Sunday to top the record of 125kg China's Yang Xia set at the 2000 Sydney Games and add further joy to becoming Thailand's first female Olympic winner.

"It was a big mistake," admitted an adviser to the International Weightlifting Federation, who asked not to be named. "She should not have been allowed to lift that weight."

He explained that Olympic records must be beaten by a margin of at least 2.5kgs to be recorded. So to have set a valid record Udomporn would have had to have lifted 127.5kg in her final hoist.