Sukma XXI: Sarawak, Sabah muaythai athletes clash for gold in waikru, mai muay events

BINTULU (Aug 19):  Sarawak and Sabah muaythai athletes are set to compete for gold medals in the waikru and mai muay events today.

In the women’s waikru (art solo) category, Sarawak’s 18-year-old Nur Iklil Zarifah Mohamad Affandi will face off against Sabah’s 20-year-old Yan Jia Chi.

The men’s waikru (art solo) event will feature Sarawak’s 17-year-old Mifdal Wafiy Ayatullah against Sabah’s 16-year-old Muhammad Iftikharsyahlan As Roslan.

For the women’s mai muay (art duo) event, Sarawak’s Ain Arisya Zulkeplie and Nur Arifah Mahsunah Baharom, both 16, will compete against Sabah’s Jezzevelle Myora Jerry and Myra Arina Roslan, also 16.

In the men’s mai muay art duo event, Sarawak’s Mifdal Wafiy Ayatullah and his partner Mohamad Azrell Saifullah Abdullah, 17, will go up against Sabah’s Asyraf Danial Abdul Latif and Marshall Jayden Jerry, both 18.

Waikru and mai muay are integral components of muaythai, each holding unique significance.

Waikru is a traditional Thai ceremony performed before a match, serving as a show of respect to teachers, ancestors, and the sport. It involves a series symbolic and spiritual movements and gestures.

Mai muay showcases the artistic and technical aspects of muaythai through choreographed routines. Athletes are judged on movement complexity, balance, facial expressions, and overall synchronicity with the music. Scoring is based on mandatory elements such as the six starting postures, prom nang, prom yuen, finishing, and joining techniques.