Pint-sized muaythai champ to represent Malaysia
KUCHING: Thirteen-year- old Shafiq Rushidi continues to prove that champions come in many shapes and sizes.
The pint- sized fighter, who represented Muay Thai Kenyalang Club (MTK), won the final Junior bout at the inaugural National InterClub Muaythai Championships in Subang on Sunday.
The SMK Seri Setia Tabuan student is now selected by the Malaysian Muaythai Association ( PMM) alongside six others to represent the country at the International Federation of Muaythai Amateurs (IFMA) Royal Cup tournament in Bangkok, Thailand from Aug 13-23.
Norrozida Turkey, 42, is simply overjoyed with her youngest son’s latest feat.
“He has been training really hard over the past two months for this. I’m just so happy that all those efforts and sacrifices have paid off,” she told The Borneo Post yesterday upon the state team’s arrival here yesterday.
The upcoming Bangkok outing will be Shafiq’s second international appearance.
Last year, he clinched the gold after knocking out Denmark’s Rebihi Jamal in the Junior Boys 42kg bout at the IFMA World Championships in Langkawi.
“Once agai n, he wi l l be shouldering a very heavy responsibility. I know that Shafiq would strive to do his best but I still want to remind him not to be overconfident.
“Winning is a great thing, but it’s not everything. The most important thing is for him to
He has been training really hard over the past two months for this. I’m just so happy that all those efforts and sacrifices have paid off.
perform his very best in Bangkok,” the proud mother added.
The inter-club challenge at The Summit USJ last Sunday was a fruitful outing for Sarawak clubs.
Lundu Muaythai Club ( ML) collected five gold and two silver medals to earn third spot behind overall champions Kayu Kelat Terengganu Muaythai Club and runners- up Warisan Muaythai Club.
MTK bagged four gold, SS Fighters obtained two gold and a silver while Bintulu’s PS Sebiew brought home a silver and three bronzes.
Sarawak Muaythai Association (PMNS) president Jumaat Ibrahim was obviously pleased with the latest performce of local fighters.
He also hoped that the national inter- club tournament could become an annual affair to further boost the sport in Malaysia.
The nine gold medalists from Sarawak were Heendrew Lois Rekan ( Class A), Elia Zonia (Junior), Ranti Niza (Junior), Lim Min Chiong (Junior) and Rahman Iqmal (Junior) from ML; Hunsson Kayan (Class B), Ayu Arynafaiza Azmie (Girls Junior), Muhd Haikal Zaidie (Junior) and Shafiq Rushidi (Junior) from MTK; Prtasarthee Punniyamoor thy ( Junior) and Mohd Eswandy Hasan (Junior) of SS Fighters.
Norrozida Turkey, Shafiq’s mother