More muaythai platforms to unearth Sarawak’s next generation

BINTULU: The 10th Muaythai Premier Sarawak Cup is among the competitions the Sarawak Muaythai Association (PMNS) is banking on to discover promising fighters and strengthen the state’s talent pool.

PMNS president, Jumaat Ibrahim, said tournaments of different scales provided opportunities for the association to identify new athletes and develop them for higher-level competition.

“Every muaythai event organised in Sarawak, whether it is the TYT Cup, the Premier Cup or even smaller-scale events, is one of the ways for PMNS to unearth new talent,” he told Sarawak Tribune after the introduction of participating athletes ahead of the tournament on Thursday night (Oct 16).

Jumaat said the association wanted to bring more promising fighters through the ranks so they could eventually represent Sarawak beyond the state.

“We will continue to work to discover as much muaythai talent as possible in Sarawak so that these athletes can represent the state at national and international championships,” he added.

The talent search also supports Sarawak’s wider ambition to establish itself as a sports hub, with the association continuing its efforts to promote muaythai and expand opportunities for emerging athletes.

Jumaat said developing future athletes was essential to ensuring the sport’s continued growth, with PMNS seeking to nurture a new generation of fighters rather than relying solely on its existing pool.

The effort also ties in with preparations for the 2028 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Kelantan, with PMNS looking to identify promising fighters who could be developed into potential Sarawak representatives.