2007 World Muaythai Championships

'Muaythai is now a global sport'

Bangkok, Dec 7: 2007 IFMA World Muaythai Championships held from November 27 to December 5 at Fashion Island here shows the Game is now truly a “Global Sports.”

“It is now no more for the ‘Thais’, says Dr Nat Indrapana, IOC Member and Deputy Minister of Tourism and Sports, Government of Thailand, while delivering his inaugural speech on the Annual General Meeting of IFMA held on December 3 at Emerald Hotel, Bangkok . “It now belongs to the world.”

The biggest ever Indian Muaythai team, led by Oken Jeet Sandham, President of Muaythai Federation of India (MFI), participated this year’s Championships.

The Indian players have shown their fighting skills, while for the first time the MFI has successfully produced four Judges and Referees this time.

There is an increase of 18 IFMA-Member countries than last year’s World Muaythai Championships (2006) in Bangkok. 82 countries had participated last year.

This year’s World Championships and the participation by 100 national teams clearly manifested that “Muaythai is on the right path and our dream can become reality,” says His Excellency General Pichitr Kullavanaijaya, Privy Councilor to His Excellency the King of Thailand.

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Source: North East Press Service (NEPS)

World Muaythai Championship

Marempu Kabui wins bronze:

Bangkok, Dec 3: G Marempu Kabui from Manipur has won bronze in World Muaythai Championship at Fashion Island here after losing his semi-final fight to Guang Jing of China on Monday.

He fought in the 40 kg Junior Male Division.

The gold medal went to Guang Jing of China while Monastirskiy of Ukraine won the silver.

Marenpu is one of the six Muaythai players from Manipur and one out of 16 Indian Muaythai team members who could only win a medal in the Championship that started on November 27.

Earlier, Sarangthem Ningtamba lost to Ramazan Gasanov of Russia in 57 kg Junior Division yesterday, while Likmabam Suraj and Chingshanglakpa lost to Dakoto Jean Stephan of Madagascar and Aiazau of Belarus respectively.

Suraj was in 60 kg B Division while Chingshanglakpa in 48 kg Junior Division.

On the second day of the Championship, L Nishikanta was defeated by Adrian Wytwer of Poland in 63.5 kg B Division.

Desam Anjan Kumar Goud from Andhra Pradesh, Vinothkumar from Tamil Nadu and Anshuman Behera from Orissa had lost to Moghaddam of Iran, Aliaksei Baranouski of Belarud and Clayton Cook of Australia respectively.

It may be mentioned that President of Muaythai Federation of India Oken Jeet Sandham has led this jumbo Indian Muaythai team to Bangkok for this historic World Muaythai Championship 2007 which will end on Wednesday.

Source: North East Press Service (NEPS)

World Muaythai Championship

Four Manipuris lose on 4th day:

Bangkok, Nov 30: Altogether four players from Manipur have been defeated since the beginning of the World Muaythai Championship here at Fashion Island, Bangkok.

Many of them, however, could complete their rounds and lost in points only.

Sarangthem Ningtamba from Manipur lost to Ramazan Gasanov of Russia in 57 kg Junior Division yesterday, while Likmabam Suraj and Chingshanglakpa also from Manipur lost to Dakoto Jean Stephan of Madagascar and Aiazau of Belarus respectively today.

Suraj was in 60 kg B Division, while Chingshanglakpa in 48 kg Junior Division.

On the second day of the Championship, L Nishikanta was defeated by Adrian Wytwer of Poland in 63.5 kg B Division.

Besides them, Desam Anjan Kumar Goud from Andhra Pradesh, M Vinothkumar from Tamil Nadu and Anshuman Behera from Orissa have lost to Moghaddam of Iran, Aliaksei Baranouski of Belarus and Clayton Cook of Australia respectively.


There were two officials from Manipur, O Manglemjao (Senior Referee), L Thoiba Singh (Referee), two from Nagaland, Aneile Kenye (Media and Assistant Team Manager) and Takameren (Referee) and also one official each from Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, Selvaraj and Balaraju.

It may be mentioned that President of Muaythai Federation of India Oken Jeet Sandham has led this jumbo Indian Muaythai Team to Bangkok for this historic World Muaythai Championship 2007 which started from November 27 and that will continue till December 5.

Source: NEPS/www.e-pao.net

South East Asian Games

Manipuri nominated as jury member for SEA Games:

Nov 5: President of the Muaythai Federation of India (MFI) Oken Jeet Sandham has been nominated as one of the jury members by International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) for the 24th Southeast Asian Games (also known as SEA Games) to be held from December 6–15 at Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

This year, Muaythai was included as a full medal sport for both male and female athletes.

Sandham is also one of the Vice Chairmen of IFMA Safety Committee, World HQs, Bangkok, Thailand.

The SEA Games is a biannual multi-sport event involving participants from 11 countries of Southeast Asia.

The SEA Games are under regulation of the Southeast Asian Games Federation with supervision by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

Sandham's nomination as one of the jury members of the upcoming SEA Games at Bangkok gives a morale booster to not only the rank and file of the Muaythai Federation of India (MFI) as it would once again prove the legality of Muaythai under his leadership in Olympic arena.

Such position would also dismiss those who were repeatedly claiming to be the genuine Muaythai body in India. Sandham has been representing India in all the International Muaythai Championships under IFMA and the 13th Asian Games in Doha where Muaythai was showcased as a demonstration sport.

IFMA is recognised by General Association of International Sports Federation (GAIFS) as the only international Muaythai governing body in the world.

Sandham is the only qualified IFMA referee from the whole of South Asian countries and has been refereeing in various world Muaythai championships and the Doha Asian Games.

Source: NEPS