Kota Kinabalu: Sabah muaythai’s influence on the national team continued to grow as World champions Angie Yan Jia Chi and Asraf Danial and Eva Anastasia, all Sabahans, were featured in the six-member squad.
They will be taking part in the IFMA Asian Muaythai Championship 2025 in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam, which started on Saturday (June21).
Angie, a three-time IFMA Senior World Championship U23 winner in 2023, 2024, 2025 and Asyraf, who won the IFMA Senior World Championship 2024 U23 title will compete in the Wai kru discipline, while Eva Anastasia is in the – 48kg combat category.
The other members in the team are Damia Husna (– 45kg combat), captain Mohd Wassof Rumijam (– 54kg combat) and Adam Haiqal (– 60kg combat).
Head Coach is another Sabahan Cyrille Dhillon Tahing, who is entrusted with preparing the national squad for one of Asia’s most prestigious Muaythai competitions, featuring participation from over 35 countries.
According to him, Malaysia Muaythai Association are not setting any medal target, as the main focus is to provide exposure at international level ahead of the SEA Games 2025.
And is a stepping stone for future participation in regional professional circuits and centralised national training camps.
However, he is confident the athletes will be able to deliver the goods in the six-day competition.
“Although the primary purpose of this trip is giving opportunities for development, that doesn’t mean that we’re not aiming for medals and I am certain the athletes will give their best for Malaysia,” he said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Sabah Muaythai Association president Hj. Nazri Ab Razak was proud of Cyrille and the three athletes.
“Seeing Sabahans earning places in the national team reflects our years of consistent effort, sacrifice, and structured development at state level.
“Their selection reinforces Sabah’s status as an emerging force in Malaysian Muaythai and a consistent contributor to national and regional excellence.
“We are proud of their achievements and it is a defining milestone in their journey. We are confident that this will inspire more young talents in Sabah to pursue Muaythai at the highest level,” he said.
