Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Muaythai once again proved their dominance on the national stage by capturing the overall title at the National Muaythai Championship, held in conjunction with the National Martial Arts Championship at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, over the weekend.
The state team claimed the overall crown for the third consecutive year with an impressive medal haul: 24 gold, 10 silver, and 25 bronze.
Adding to their triumph, four Sabah athletes were recognised as best performers in their respective categories: Ariesya Dania (Best Cultural Performance) Mohd Faliq (Best Male Boxer, Age 8–9) Dazaizy Hafiy (Best Male Boxer, Age 12–13) Kerry Dryan (Best Male Boxer, Age 16–17)
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});Sabah Muaythai Association President, Haji Nazri Ab Razak, expressed pride in the team’s performance and attributed the success to the collective effort of athletes, coaches, and families.
“Each medal represents countless hours of training and sacrifice. I’m extremely proud of how our team carried the Sabah name and spirit, proving once again we are a force to be reckoned with in Malaysian Muaythai,” he said.
He also extended gratitude to parents and families, acknowledging their behind-the-scenes contributions.
Head coach Cyrille Dhillon Tahing highlighted the long-term vision behind the team’s success.
“We’ve spent years building Muaythai from the grassroots—through schools, local clubs, and statewide programs. This result is a direct outcome of strategic planning and the mental toughness of our fighters,” he said.
Vice President Ahmad Ridwan Ghazali thanked the Sabah Sports Council and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for their continued support.
He said the victory further cements Sabah’s position as a powerhouse in Malaysian Muaythai and hopes it will inspire a new generation of athletes to continue the legacy.
