S’wak Muaythai refs attend key course in KL

KUCHING: A full force of 18 participants from Sarawak Muaythai Association (PMS) was led by president Jumaat Ibrahim to attend a muaythai refereeing course in Peninsular Malaysia last week.

According to PMS officials who contacted The Borneo Post yesterday, the course was vital for the association to groom more referees here to assist in future tournaments.

“We need as many referees as we can as at times, we experience a shortage for PMS tournaments. This was why we decided to bring as many participants we could for the course,” said an PMS official.

National referees have three stages of qualification, namely Class C: State Level, Class B: National Level ( IFMA / PMM), Class A: National Level ( WMC / PMM) and Class A: International Ranked IFMA.

The course attended by PMS officials was known as the National Muaythai Pro and Amateur Referee Course organised by the Malaysia Muaythai Association ( PMM) as early preparations for the 2017 SEA Games in KL. It was held on Aug 19- 21 at two venues namely Dewan Komanwel, National Sports Council ( MSN) HQ in Bukit Jalil for the first day and at South City Plaza, Seri Kembangan in Selangor on the second and third day.

“Leading facilitators from the muaythai world body such as the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur ( IFMA) and the World Muaythai Council ( WMC) conducted the course. Each participant paid RM220 to attend it,” said a PMS official.

Meanwhile, PMM too announced that they have invited those keen to participate in the International Referees Course held in Bangkok from today (Aug 26) to Aug 30. Each participant are charged a fee of US$ 200 ( RM803). Send details to muaythaimalaysiahq@ gmail. com. — by Matthew Umpang