Malaysian contenders show courage at the IFMA World Youth Muay Thai Championship in 2022.

Sarawakian’s Johan achieved a gold medal in the 2022 IFMA World Youth Muay Thai Championship.

Mohammad Johan Ghazali Zulfikar of Sarawak has won the 14-15 (under 60kg) division at the 2022 IFMA World Youth Muay Thai Championship.

On Saturday, he beat Russian athlete Rustam Yunusob with a score of 20-18 at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Center in Petaling Jaya.

The victory was strengthened whenever the SMK St Thomas Kuching student was named Best Boxer-Outstanding Male Athlete as a result of his achievement.

Muhammad Mikail Ghazali Zulfikar, Mohammad Johan’s younger brother, who also competed for PMM (Malaysia A), earned gold in the IFMA World Muaythai Championship division (Junior 12-13 Male Youth 36-40kg).

He also claimed bronze in the Junior 12-13 Men’s Under 40kg division.

After falling in the final to Russian fighter Sarkhan Alberov, who reflected IFMA, fellow Sarawakian Texas Jeremy Lo, who also competed under the PMM (Malaysia A) ticket, earned a silver.

Sarawak’s female athletes shone as well, with sisters Nur Afiqah Musfirah Baharom and Nur Arifah Mahsunah Baharom taking silver in the Muay Boran category (Mae Muay open category).

Another silver came from Nur Haina Aisyah Muhamad Haikal Jenil in the IFMA Youth 30kg category.

Jumaat Ibrahim, president of the Sarawak State Muay Thai Association (PMNS), praised all Sarawakian competitors on their achievement at the global tournament when contacted.

He stated that their achievement demonstrated Sarawak’s ability to produce prominent muay thai stars on par with world level athletes.

He also stated that it demonstrated that all of the development programmes established by PMNS and supported by local muay thai clubs each year yielded results.

“Their achievements are the result of support and support from all parties such as the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Sarawak Entrepreneur Development; Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC); Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS); clubs; coaches; and athletes themselves to see muay thai sport in Sarawak continue grow and go further.

“I would also like to thank the Malaysian Muaythai Association (PMM) for trusting us by sponsoring Sarawak athletes to participate in this world championship,” he said.

Jumaat also anticipated that Sarawak’s athletes will maintain their winning run at the Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Games (Sukma) upcoming month.