Muaythai in 23rd SEA Games a Full Success

After Muaythai was included as a full medal sport of the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games for the first time in 2005 in the Philippines, 2007 was another milestone for the sport as female Muaythai was also included this year, making both male and female Muaythai SEA Games medal sports.

IFMA, the world governing body for amateur Muaythai and a member of GAISF, and IFMA’s Asian arm, FAMA, under the Presidency of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, was the International Federation for the sport. Referees and judges were invited from around the world to make it a truly fair event, as fair play is the slogan of IFMA.

The opening of the Games was colourful as thousands of athletes from the SEA Games countries proudly marched into the stadium. The Muaythai event, held over four days, undoubtedly was one of the highlights of the Games, televised live every day and filling the stadium to bursting point with an electrifying atmosphere.

Thailand was the clear favourite this year, especially with His Majesty’s 80th birthday celebrations, but all participating countries truly put up some spectacular fights.

All results will be posted on the IFMA and FAMA sites, and Southeast Asia is looking forward to the 2009 Games, to be held in Laos.