BANGKOK — The
ancient combat sport of Muay Thai has set its sights on Olympic glory, but a
recent death has highlighted safety concerns that could slow its path to a
Games debut.
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Muay Thai allows some moves that are banned in other
forms of kickboxing, such as elbow and knee strikes, and fighters wear little
safety gear.
The sport secured Olympic recognition in 2021 — but
whether the Games will ever host a Muay Thai event depends on efforts to make
the fights safer and more inclusive.
Stephan Fox, secretary general of the International
Federation of Muay Thai Associations, insists it is “a very safe sport” with
rules in place to ensure fighters are fairly matched.
“In Muay Thai we
have the same weight, same skills ... At the end of the day, accidents happen in
any sport,” he said. He acknowledged that bouts organized privately in rural
areas of Thailand outside the supervision of the governing body are harder to
police.
At one bout held in July in central Thailand’s
Pathum Thani, an elbow strike put former South East Asian Games silver
medallist Panphet Phadungchai into a coma, and a week later the 25-year-old
died.
Muay Thai — known as the “art of eight limbs” for
the different ways opponents can strike each other with knees, fists, kicks,
and elbows — is Thailand’s de facto national sport and is a source of immense
pride.
Since the July death, the Thai authorities have
increased their efforts to enforce more rules and inspections in a sport that
is steeped in centuries of tradition.
Bids to make the sport more inclusive saw women
fighters go toe-to-toe last year for the first time at the Lumpinee stadium in
Bangkok, Muay Thai’s spiritual home, run by the army since it opened in 1956.
Providing wounded fighters with medical attention is
also becoming more of a priority. At a recent seven-fight bill at the stadium,
army doctor Phongcharoen Ungkharjornkul, 31, took his place at the edge of the
ring alongside five nurses, with an ambulance on standby outside.
“Muay Thai is a violent sport. It can cause head
injuries, concussions, internal bleeding,” he told AFP. “If boxers are not
treated quickly, they can die.”
Argentinian fighter Federico Vernengo was soon
brought in by wheelchair, blood pouring down his face after collapsing in the
first round of his fight. “When I was hit in the face, I saw my mother ... It
was crazy,” he said after receiving five stitches.
But while immediate care is on hand, follow-up
treatment — and enforcement of rest periods in cases of head injuries — is not
always so thorough.
Gaps between fights are often cut short to allow
fighters and promoters to earn more money.
The sport’s authorities are also looking to clamp
down on the involvement of children in bouts.
Regular paid fights have long been one route out of
poverty for children from rural Thailand, but the death of a 13-year-old in a
bout in 2018 caused outrage in the kingdom.
Youngsters can earn hundreds of dollars a fight from
promoters and gamblers, but the bouts often take place outside and regulatory
framework and without protective equipment.
Fox said the IFMA is working “to ensure that there
are no more child fights”.
“This is one of our concerns,” he said.
The push for better standards comes as the sport
seeks to progress along the path to the Olympic Games.
Last year the International Olympic Committee
formally recognized the IFMA, which has nearly 150 member countries.
It was an important milestone, but Fox said the
sport had work to do on equality, youth development, governance and other
areas.
“Everybody dreams of the Olympics,” he said.
“Hopefully one day, the dream will become true for the next generation. For
now, one step at a time.”
For Anthony Durand, the Frenchman who delivered the fatal
blow to Panphet, the dream is over — after 28 bouts he has quit the sport for good.
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