Foreign children raise ‘Buakaw-Rodtang’ as their idols – while Muay Thai boxers parade to compete in 8 categories in the World Youth Championship

The 72nd Anniversary Celebration of His Majesty the King's Muay Thai Youth Amateur World Championship 2024 "IFMA Youth World Championships 2024" at Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon, from September 13-19. Free admission for boxing fans. The International Federation of Muay Thai Associations (IFMA), in collaboration with the Amateur Muay Thai Association of Thailand (AMTAT) and the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), is organizing the competition to expand the base of Muay Thai sports worldwide and to support the policy of the Thai government under the leadership of Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister, to promote "Muay Thai" as a soft power. There are young Thai boxers from around the world, members of IFMA, participating in the competition, more than 100 countries, approximately 2,000 athletes and 1,500 people involved, totaling approximately 3,500 people. It is expected that this event will create economic value for Thailand of 500-1,000 million baht. As for Thai youth Thai boxing athletes, 26 people will participate, divided into 13 men and 13 women. On September 17, the 2024 IFMA Youth World Championships entered its fifth day of competition, reaching the semi-finals and finals in some categories. There were as many as 161 matches and Thai boxers competing in 14 categories. The highlight was in the 45kg category for men aged 14-15 years old. "Petch Shogun Khon Kaen Sports School" Phatthanan Phikunwilai used his superior skills before firing punches and feet at Brix Ramiscal from the Philippines until the end of 3 rounds. The judges raised their hands to give him the win with a score of 30-27, moving on to the final round to meet Arkady Bozari from Moldova. After the fight, Phatthanan said that before the competition, she set her goal to win a gold medal. Now that she has made it to the final round, she is satisfied. Throughout the past three fights, she has been doing better and better. The only problem that needs to be fixed is her strength. She needs to throw punches and kicks harder, but she is still c onfident that she will win the gold medal. The results of other Thai boxers who made it to the final round are as follows: 38 kg. category, male, age 12-13 years, "Achariya A. Uud Udon" Kritsana Hoykaew defeated Eli Grimaldo from the United States 30-27, advancing to the final round to meet Alexander Perevsenziev, a boxer from a neutral country. 38kg Female 12-13 years old category, "Angkor Sor.Jitsanong" Siwapreeya Thongpuek defeated Aylin Sahmeran from Iran 29-28 on points, advancing to the final round to meet Serafima Kostyakova, a boxer from a neutral country. 45kg Female 16-17 years old category "Sane Ngam Kamnan Chet Muang Chon" Niracha Tangjiu won by points against Uliana Krizanova, a boxer from a neutral country, 30-27, and advanced to the finals to meet Shaima Ettasiri from Morocco. 48 kg. Female 16-17 years old category "Tidaploy Sit Phuyai Chuk" Thidarat Kanburi won by points against Shoirakon Abdulkolikova from Uzbekistan 29-28, advancing to the finals to meet Nasile Mutlu, a boxer from a neut ral country. 48kg Men's 16-17 years old category "Diesellek Sor.Srithong" Tasnim Kotphakdee defeated Mert Gunay from Turkey 30-27, advancing to the final round to meet Yussuf Muktassip from Kazakhstan. 51 kg category, men, age 16-17 years, semi-final round, "Namkhon Ror.Krungthep Sports School" Sittinon Damneam defeated Valeed Lotfi from Belgium 29-28, entering the final round to meet Joseph Hobbs. In the 51kg male category, age 14-15, Apidet Surat Gym, Apidet Kanjana withdrew due to an injury, resulting in winning the bronze medal. There were also other pairs where Thai boxers lost in the semi-finals, winning 6 more bronze medals, as follows: 36 kg. Female, 12-13 years old, "Yokpetch Singmawin" Araya Mankong lost to Alani Aldama from the United States 27-30. 40kg female category, age 12-14 years, "Petchmintra T.Yandindaeng" Laksanaporn Musiko lost to Kushnaz Siganporia from India 28-29. 40kg Female, 14-15 years old, "DJ Sis Odnoi" Noyana Talrat lost by knockout to Sky Branson from Australia. 38kg fema le category, age 14-15 years, semi-final round, "Ploy Star Sit Phuyai Chuk" Natthida Kanburi lost after being counted out twice in the second round to Anastasia Bias, a boxer from a neutral country. 42kg female category, age 14-15 years, semi-final round, "Aksornthong Khaolak Muay Thai" Anusara Nuneat lost to Varvara Peramotava, a neutral boxer, 28-30. 60 kg. Female, age 16-17 years, semi-finals, "Petch Baiyok, Korat Sports School" Piyawan Unkongpanaw lost to Alayna Korkmaz from Turkey 27-30. Summary of the results of Thai boxers, a total of 26 categories were sent to compete, 16 categories were entered into the semi-finals, 8 categories were entered into the finals, and 8 categories were awarded bronze medals. Estonian boxer Jorg Kanistick said that Muay Thai is a sport that he started playing since he was a child. He thought that this was the sport that he could do best, so he gradually trained and developed himself until he became the athlete he is today. His idols for Muay Thai are Buakaw Banchamek an d Rottang Jitmuangnon. 'Of course, in the future, I would like to come back to Thailand again to train more in Muay Thai to become a better athlete,' Kanistic concluded. Mila Cheng, a female boxer from Canada, said that she chose to play Muay Thai because her family supported her a lot, plus she has relatives who are Muay Thai athletes, which is like an inspiration for her, so she has been practicing Muay Thai since she was a child. As for her idol, besides her relatives, there is Buakaw Banchamek, who is also a Muay Thai boxer. 'Before the competition, I traveled to Thailand for training. I really enjoyed it. Of course, if I have the chance in the future, I would like to come back to Thailand to train in Muay Thai again,' said the Canadian boxer. For September 18, 2024, Channel 9 MCOT HD No. 30 will broadcast live as usual from 4:00 p.m. onwards. Source: Thai News Agency