A Muay Thai event with a difference was held at the Bangkok Convention Center in Lad Prao yesterday. In a predominantly male oriented sport, it was the women’s turn to show that they can inflict pain on each other with kicks, punches, and knees just as well as the men.
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”22345″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”401″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”600″}}]]
The giant hall was packed with eager fans and a large number of school children waiting to see the 16 ladies fight in the first qualifying round of the “World Muay Thai Angels 2013”.
Before each fight, the ladies were greeted with the razzmatazz you would expect from a boxing match: their names on giant screens, entrance music, and walking to the ring above the fans on a raised runway. A live band played the rhythmic music known as Sarama that accompanies all Muay Thai fights, and all the action was televised live.
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”22346″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”400″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”600″}}]]
Even with all this, there was still a general feeling of uncertainty about what we were about to see. Was this event a PR stunt? That thought was banished as soon as the bell rang for the first fight.
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”22347″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”400″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”600″}}]]
Female fighters from 15 countries including Spain, Morocco, Romania, South Korea, England and Thailand competed for a spot in the semi finals to be held on Nov. 7.
Each fight lasted for three rounds of two minutes with the judges deciding the victor, apart from the last fight, which ended when Zahrah Memom from England was knocked to the canvas by a sickening blow to the midriff in the opening exchanges by Romanian Linca Serbu.
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”22350″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”401″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”600″}}]]
Both Thai fighters, Dunnapa and Chomanne, won their bouts to progress to the semi finals.
The next “World Muay Thai Angels 2013” event is on Nov.7 at Central plaza Chanengwattana.
The results from the World Muay Thai Angels 2013.
Dunnapa (TH) beat Wendy Talbot (NZ)
Joanna Jedrzejcz (POL) beat Sandra Mandret (LUX)
Sindy Huyer (ITA) beat Asya Shelomentseva (RUS)
Lauren Tue (FRA) beat Ilona Jukubovich (BLR)
Chomanee (TH) beat Chen Jia Hui (CH)
Iman Ghbalou (MAR) beat Su Jung Lim (KOR)
Teresa Wintermyr (SWE) beat Jessica Sanchez Visier (ESP)
Linca Serbu (ROM) beat Zahrah Memom (ENG)
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”22352″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”400″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”600″}}]]
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”22353″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”400″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”600″}}]]
[[{“type”:”media”,”view_mode”:”media_original”,”fid”:”22354″,”attributes”:{“alt”:””,”class”:”media-image”,”height”:”400″,”typeof”:”foaf:Image”,”width”:”600″}}]]
Photos: Kajonsak Intarapong
