Thai competitors caught between feuding bodies

The World Muaythai Federation (WMF) should not be blamed if there are no Thai fighters at this year’s SEA Games, its chief Lt Gen Akachai Chantosa said yesterday.

The Muay (Muay Thai) tournament, with 14 gold medals at stake, will be organised by the Southeast Asian Muay Federation, which is under the WMF umbrella.

With the December tournament to be staged by a rival organisation, Sakchye Tapsuwan, president of the Amateur Muaythai Association of Thailand (Amat), has said he cannot send Thai athletes to take part in the biennial event in Myanmar.

He has demanded the tournament be staged by an organisation recognised by the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (Ifma).

But Lt Gen Akachai insists the hosts, Myanmar, have picked the WMF.

‘‘Myanmar approached us to run the tournament,’’ he said.

‘‘They had approached other organisations but they could not reach an agreement.

‘‘They had the right to choose any organisation and we have to respect their decision.’’

Sakchye’s organisation is supervising the preparations of Thai fighters for the SEA Games and Akachai insisted it was not within his power to ensure Thai fighters compete later this year.

‘‘The organisation which is preparing Thai fighters must shoulder responsibility if there are no Thai fighters at the SEA Games,’’ he said.

Kanokphand Chulakasem, president of the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), called for the officials to find a way for Thai fighters to compete at the Games.

‘‘We must find a way out for the problem,’’ he said.