Sabah lad wins M’sia’s first gold in Muaythai c’ships
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah youngster Daniel Firdieans Maideh delivered Malaysia’s first gold in the 2017 IFMA Youth World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand.
The feat achieved on Tuesday saw Malaysia’s overall medal count improved to one gold and three bronze medals going into the Muaythai championships’ final day today.
Sabah duo Kallens Barthez Jafali (57kg 14-15 years) and Riedzwan Norsyahmie Daud (48kg 16-17 years) as well as Sarawak’s Muhamad Johan Ghazali contributed the bronze medals after losing their semifinal bouts.
Daniel, 12, however was undoubtedly the star of the national contingent after his victory in the 42kg division bout for the 12-13 age group ensured the country would return with gold for the second successive year.
The Primary Six student of SK Tanjung Keramat, Tawau edged his Uzbekistan opponent in the final, winning on points 10-9, 10-9 and 10-9 over three rounds.
Malaysia will have a chance to add another gold medal when an exponent from Kelantan comes into action in the final on the last day of the championship today.
National squad delegation chief Ir. Hj. Nazri Hj. Ab Razak, who is also Sabah Muaythai Association president, was happy with the national juniors’ performance, especially the local talents.
Malaysia sent 10 athletes to the championship, six of whom are from Sabah.
“The competitions were tough and our athletes needed to be at their best. Armed with strength and steely determination, some of the boxers managed to get past the challenges.
“Hopefully, this will be a good experience not only for the athletes but the coaches as well as the rest of the national delegation to assist in the development of the sport, in Sabah in particular,” he said in a statement to the press yesterday.
Having said that, Nazri pledged that the state association will send athletes to overseas tournaments and assured that the state athletes will be ready for competitions such as in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2018 and the IFMA Youth World championship, also in Banglok next year.
Meanwhile, Nazri hoped the achievement of the national youngsters would inspire others to take up the sport where discipline is of utmost important.
He also thanked the parents and families, schools, state education department and district education offices for playing their respective roles as well as the support from the Malaysia Education Ministry.
“Not forgetting as well the assistance and strong support from KBS (Youth and Sports Ministry), MSN (Sabah Sports Council) and ISN (National Sports Institute),” added Nazri.
A total of 1,100 athletes form 79 countries took part in the IFMA Youth World championships.