Oken Jeet Sandham's contributions lauded by World MuayThai leaders
Source: NEPS

Bangkok, Jun 12: The leaders of the World MuayThai Council (WMC) and International Federation of MuayThai Amateur (IFMA) have formally acknowledged the contributions of Oken Jeet Sandham, President of the MuayThai Federation of India (MFI), for the promotion of MuayThai in the whole of South Asian Countries.

Oken Jeet Sandham (right) receiving awards for his contributions for the promotion of MuayThai in the world from General Chetta Thanajaro, President of the World MuayThai Council (WMC) and former Chief of Royal Thai Army, in the closing function of the World Cup MuayThai Championship in Bangkok.

Lauding the selfless sacrifice of Sandham and his continuous association with the IFMA and WMC for the last over 16 years, IFMA Secretary General Stephan Fox recalled, during the closing function of the World Cup MuayThai Championship here, as how Sandham became the founding member of the WMC when it was formally established on September 25, 1995 at Bangkok and also instrumental for the formation of IFMA in 1990.

IFMA President Dr Sakchye Tapsuwan, Philippines MuayThai President Roberto Baldez, Singapore MuayThai leaders, European MuayThai Federation leaders were among other who appreciated Sandham?s consistency with the IFMA and WMC activities.

He has already taken over hundred students to various International MuayThai Championships, Seminars and Workshops held in various parts of the world over the last about 15 years.

Oken Jeet Sandham (2nd left behind) with the Indian MuayThai Team in Bangkok.

Many of his students got medals in many international MuayThai tournaments including the current World Cup MuayThai Championship held here at Mall Convention Centre.

Nagaland's Bendangjungla and Manipur's L Suraj and L Jandhobi got bronze medals in this time's World Cup MuayThai Championship at Bangkok.

Sandham has also been conferred many awards for his contributions for the promotion of MuayThai not only in India but also the world.

Some of those awards were given by His Excellency General Pichitr Kullavanijaya, Privy Councilor to His Majesty the King of Thailand, General Chetta Thanajaro, former Chief of Royal Thai Army, General Vorayuth Mossomanta, Ex-President of IFMA, etc.

Elected as one of the Vice Chairmen of the IFMA Executive Board during IFMA World General Body Meet held in 2005 at Bangkok, Sandham?s achievements in the field of MuayThai in India and South Asian countries have also been highlighted in leading Thai Corporate Magazine's The Corporate Thailand.

Many of his stories have also been appeared in many European MuayThai Magazines.

It may be mentioned that Sandham was the first Indian who officially brought MuayThai in India and became the founding President of the MuayThai Federation of India since 1991.He led the Indian MuayThai Team successfully to the 13th Bangkok Asian Games in 1998 when the Amateur MuayThai was first introduced as a discipline in the Games.

He is the only qualified IFMA Referee from India till date, when O Manglemjao as IFMA Judge.

He has been refereeing and judging International MuayThai Tournaments held in various parts of the world since 1996.