SANDAKAN: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said Muay Thai is as more than just physical training but also an effective tool for helping teenagers manage emotions and make wise decisions when the martial art is practised responsibly outside the ring.
Hannah noted how combat sports like Muay Thai can address growing concerns about bullying by teaching young people discipline and self-control.
“There is a clear difference between athletes who train with discipline and those who do not. They learn not just martial arts, but also emotional control and the importance of not using violence outside the ring,” she said at the launch of the VW Fighting Championship 2025 held at the Sibuga Sports Complex, here, Saturday.
She said Muay Thai will gain greater prominence as it becomes an official event at next year’s Malaysia Games in Selangor, providing Sabah’s Muay Thai athletes’ opportunities to showcase their talents on the national stage.
Hannah said the government has allocated substantial funding to ensure Malaysia can host prestigious sporting events at both national and international levels, while encouraging organisers to apply for matching grants for future tournaments.
During the ceremony, she presented a RM20,000 contribution to support the championship’s operational costs.
The event also featured the presentation of the Jalur Gemilang to local Muay Thai athlete Siti Alisya Nurdinawati, who will represent Malaysia at the Youth World Championship in Dubai on September 9.
Meanwhile, Sandakan MP Vivian Wong, who organised the championship, hopes Sandakan will have its own Muay Thai arena, noting that the district currently borrows equipment from Kota Kinabalu for competitions.
Hannah noted how combat sports like Muay Thai can address growing concerns about bullying by teaching young people discipline and self-control.
“There is a clear difference between athletes who train with discipline and those who do not. They learn not just martial arts, but also emotional control and the importance of not using violence outside the ring,” she said at the launch of the VW Fighting Championship 2025 held at the Sibuga Sports Complex, here, Saturday.
She said Muay Thai will gain greater prominence as it becomes an official event at next year’s Malaysia Games in Selangor, providing Sabah’s Muay Thai athletes’ opportunities to showcase their talents on the national stage.
Hannah said the government has allocated substantial funding to ensure Malaysia can host prestigious sporting events at both national and international levels, while encouraging organisers to apply for matching grants for future tournaments.
During the ceremony, she presented a RM20,000 contribution to support the championship’s operational costs.
The event also featured the presentation of the Jalur Gemilang to local Muay Thai athlete Siti Alisya Nurdinawati, who will represent Malaysia at the Youth World Championship in Dubai on September 9.
Meanwhile, Sandakan MP Vivian Wong, who organised the championship, hopes Sandakan will have its own Muay Thai arena, noting that the district currently borrows equipment from Kota Kinabalu for competitions.