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PETALING JAYA – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob was presented the Golden Mongkol Award at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Muay Thai Youth World Championships here today.
The award is only reserved for national leaders hosting the world championship.
When met by reporters after the opening ceremony, Ismail Sabri said he was happy that 3,000 exponents from 110 countries participated in the programme.
“This is such a major programme... I hope many more such mega events, especially involving international championships, would be held in Malaysia,” he said.
The opening ceremony, which was held with pomp, was attended by thousands of guests from the various international Muay Thai bodies and delegations from 110 competing countries, including officers and athletes as well as fans of the self-defense sports.
Also present were International Federation of Muay Thai Associations president Sakchye Tapsuwan and the Malaysian Muay Thai Association president Datuk Muhammad Shahnaz Maula Azmi.
More than 3,500 delegates, including athletes from 110 countries, have confirmed their participation in the world championship being held at Sunway Pyramid Convention Centre, beginning yesterday until August 20.
Competition is also simultaneously going on for the World Grand Slam Championship involving elite international exponents from 200 leading clubs in the world.
The youth tournament will be contested in more than 200 categories, with the youngest age category starting at 17, and Malaysia is sending about 70 young exponents to take on the challenges in each men’s and women’s categories.
The national team also comprises representatives from para-athletes who had fought in world championships, the SEA Games as well as the Malaysia Games.
The international championship is being held for the second time in Malaysia after Langkawi previously hosted it in 2014. – Bernama, August 10, 2022