Singaporean youths as young as eight are making a name for themselves in Muay Thai, competing in Thailand where the sport is deeply rooted. Here's why their parents are supporting their kids even as they acknowledge the risks involved.
cards interface. Give it a try.The beads of perspiration glinting under the lights of the boxing stadium threatened to sting his eyes, but an expressionless Sayyid Al-Tahneem kept focus on his Thai opponent, whom he had just watched brutally knock out another fighter in under 30 seconds.
After 10 minutes of enduring his rival's powerful jabs and kicks and countering with a style of fighting that he had honed over a decade of training at a Muay Thai gym in Singapore, Sayyid emerged victorious. In 2021, the International Olympic Committee granted full recognition of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations, opening the doors for the sport to be included in the Olympics, though it remains to be seen whether Muay Thai will officially beSpeak to the parents of these young Singaporeans, though, and the idea of achieving personal glory on the international stage was not why they encouraged their children to take part in Muay Thai competitions in the first place.
Despite this, the sight of the championship belt around his waist makes the effort and pain worthwhile. Technical knockout: The referee may end a fight if he deems one of the fighters unable to proceed due to injury or a dominant opponent, and the outclassed fighter wins. Sayyid's father, who wanted to be known only as Mr Shahriel and works in the construction industry, said that he was worried his son’s small and skinny frame would leave him vulnerable to bullying.
Mr Mustafa Kamal with his three sons Muhammad Niyaz , aged 14, Muhammad Nufail , aged 12 and Muhammad Naushad , aged 10. While the couple waited for the siblings to grow older, they bought a children-sized punching bag and gloves set for them to play with at home. The sibling duo started attending Muay Thai classes at five and four years old.
Speaking to CNA TODAY after returning last week from the Johor Muaythai Championship in Malaysia, where Qarizh scored a gold medal and Qarirah a silver, their proud mother said that her son was fearless in the competition but was more concerned for his sister's match. Two gyms approached by CNA TODAY said that interest towards Muay Thai has been increasing in recent years.
Besides the popularity of competitions for mixed martial arts, “an increased awareness of bullying” has led parents to sign their children up for self-defence classes, Mr Teo from Prakaipetch Muay Thai Academy said. As child competitors are matched based on their weight, age and experience level, it was challenging to find a peer in the ring in Singapore.
It was only after Sayyid told him that he wanted to take up the challenge and “get a taste of a real fight” that Mr Shahriel agreed to let his son take part in competitive bouts in Thailand. As for training, Sayyid still primarily works out in Singapore. The other children train overseas, which can be a gruelling experience.
It is not cheap to keep up with this sport there. Monthly passes at a Thai gym typically cost 10,000 Thai Baht , with two sessions a day for a total of about 60 sessions. For youths to be able to reach that level, they first need to prove themselves in lower level competitions, such as the Amateur Muay Thai Championship , which is held in Orchard Plaza's Club Lunar and slated for February 22 this year.
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