KUCHING: After winning five gold medals in the previous Malaysia Games (SUKMA), Sarawak Muaythai is aiming to maintain its winning momentum despite facing fewer medal opportunities at the 2026 edition in Selangor.
Sarawak State Muaythai Association’s President, Jumaat Ibrahim, said the state’s fighters are currently undergoing intensive preparations in Thailand as part of their build-up towards the Games.
He said the training stint has provided valuable exposure for the athletes, who are also competing in several tournaments in Thailand to test their readiness against stronger opponents.
“Based on the reports submitted by our coaches there, the development of the athletes has been very encouraging. At the same time, they have participated in several competitions in Thailand to gain exposure,” he said.
Jumaat added that the coaching team accompanying the athletes is confident that the fighters are ready to face the challenge at SUKMA 2026, scheduled to be held in Selangor this August.
“Our coaches are proud of their progress and have expressed confidence that the athletes are prepared to compete at SUKMA,” he told Sarawak Tribune recently.
Sarawak enjoyed a successful campaign in the previous SUKMA, collecting five gold medals comprising two from Wai Kru and three from combat categories.
However, Jumaat acknowledged that the state’s medal chances could be affected following changes to the competition structure, with several categories removed for the upcoming Games.
“Some categories have been removed, including Wai Kru, while certain weight categories have also been taken out. We accept the decision by the SUKMA Selangor organising committee and will focus on strengthening the categories that will be contested,” he said.
Despite the changes, Jumaat said Sarawak remains confident of producing a strong performance, with the association targeting two to three gold medals.
“For us, securing two gold medals would already be a good achievement. If we can maintain two or three golds, it would be something we are grateful for,” he said.
He explained that Muaythai has fewer medal events compared to other sports, making every gold medal a significant achievement.
“Some sports have many events and many opportunities to win gold medals. For Muaythai, even one category represents a major opportunity,” he said.
Jumaat also credited the Sarawak Government’s continued support in developing the sport, saying investment in training programmes and talent development has helped produce fighters capable of competing at national and international levels.
