Sarawak’s rising Muay Thai stars, Muhammad Johan Ghazali Zulfikar and Kabilan Jelevan Thiagarajan, have made waves in the world of ONE Championship.
In a bout in mid-July, 16-year-old Johan secured his third victory in ONE Championship with an impressive unanimous decision against Thailand’s Samurai Seeopal, who is 18 years old. His stellar performance garnered much attention and admiration.
Not to be outdone, Johan’s fellow Sarawakian, 23-year-old Kabilan, had a remarkable debut in ONE Championship. Displaying his prowess in the flyweight Muay Thai category, he achieved a sensational victory over Sulaiman Looksuan from Myanmar through a technical knockout (TKO) in a match that took place at the prestigious Lumpinee Boxing Stadium in Bangkok.
Kabilan’s dedication to his sport and determination to compete at the highest level paid off handsomely, as he earned a well-deserved bonus of RM45,817 (350,000 baht).
Kabilan told Bernama: “Every Muay Thai athlete dreams of fighting in ONE Championship. This has been my dream since I started training at the age of 14.
“I worked hard to achieve this dream, undergoing intensive training for almost two months before my debut appearance at ONE Championship.”
Their outstanding performances have not gone unnoticed by the authorities, and Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah sees great potential in these talented athletes.
He believes that they can represent Malaysia on the world stage and achieve greater success in the realm of Muay Thai.
Karim said he is committed to supporting and nurturing these young athletes, ensuring their continuous growth and development in the sport.
ENDS
