SHAH ALAM, Feb 8 — The state government is targeting muay thai to contribute at least four gold medals at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2026, scheduled to take place from August 15 to August 24.
State executive councillor for youth, sports, and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi said that although muay thai is still considered a relatively new sport contested at SUKMA in Selangor, the level of athlete preparedness has now reached about 90 per cent.
“We are targeting at least four gold medals in muay thai at the upcoming SUKMA. At present, the association is actively conducting focused training to achieve this target.
“Although Selangor Muay Thai League 1.0 is being organised for the first time, most of the participants have previously been active with small clubs. InsyaAllah (God willing), by organising this league, it will serve as a starting point to strengthen and expand the development of muay thai in Selangor,” he said.
Najwan was speaking to Media Selangor after officiating the Selangor Muay Thai League 1.0 at the Glorious Fight Club in Section 25 yesterday.
In a related development, the councillor said that muay thai is now gaining greater acceptance among the public than in the past, when it was often misunderstood as a violent sport.
“Previously, some parents viewed muay thai as a violent sport or one involving aggressive physical contact. However, this perception is gradually changing, as more parents are now enrolling their children in muay thai from a young age.
“In fact, muay thai not only builds physical strength, but also instils values of discipline and respect among participants,” he said.
