A nine-member Indian Amateur MuayThai Squad led by the President of the MuayThai Federation of India, Sri Oken Jeet Sandham has arrived today at Bangkok to participate one of the world’s biggest Amateur MuayThai Championship to be staged here from July 19 July to 25, 2002.
About 700 participants from over 50 countries will be vying during this seven-day long World Championship which will be graced for the first time in the History of MuayThai in Thailand by Her Majesty, the Princess of Thailand on the grand inaugural function tomorrow. The Princess’s opening of this World Championship assumes significance as the Championship has been organized in commemoration of the 50th birth anniversary of His Majesty, the King of Thailand.
It may be mentioned that on 12th July (last week), the Parliament of Thailand in an unprecedented manner had a special session regarding the MuayThai issue. They definitely voted that only the Amateur MuayThai Association of Thailand, and in the international sphere, International Federation of MuayThai Amateur (IFMA) are recognized by the Government of Thailand for the advancement of “Amateur MuayThai” which had already been included in the last 13th Asian Games, 1998 at Bangkok as a demonstration sports.
“This is fantastic news specially so close to the World Championship”, said Stephan Fox, International Coordinator and General Secretary of IFMA while addressing meeting of the Team managers of over fifty countries here at the conference hall of the SC Park Hotel today. “I hope that this will put an end to the political nonsense we have been embroiled in for the past many years. Hopefully, we can now join together in one ‘Big MuayThai Family’ and ‘push MuayThai’ to where it belongs”.
Those Indian delegates in the strong nine-member Indian MuayThai squad are Oken Jeet Sandham (Team Manager), O Manglemjao (Referee), L Thoiba Singh (Coach), Takameren( Trainee Instructor), Raju Thapa (Trainee Instructor), Lanu Imti( Player), Botovi Achumi (Player), Ziauddin Khatib (Player) and L Nehkholien Haokip (Player).
Officials of the over fifty participating countries during the team mangers’ meeting had applauded when it was announced that a big team of Chinese MuayThai came to take part to this prestigious world Championsip for the fact that the MuayThai lovers world over have been patiently waiting to penetrate MuayThai in mainland China as the country is hosting 2008 Olympic Games and MuayThai world over is hoping that Amateur MuayThai be included during the event.
The President of the IFMA, General Vorayuth Messomanta was unable to preside over today’s meeting of the Team Managers due to his ill-health but disclosed that he would be available for the next day’s grand opening ceremony of the World’s biggest Amateur MuayThai events tomorrow.
During the seven-day long world championship, there will be seminars and workshops for referees and judges and also most specially for the World Instructors’ Courses. At least two persons from Nagaland that is Takameren and Raju Thapa and one from Manipur, L Thoiba Singh would be taking part in the Instructorship’s Course.
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