Female Boxing Continues to Thrive
The world of female muaythai is ever expanding especially in recent times. The development of the sport through the hard work of the WMC and IFMA has reached such a level that it is now beginning to rival male muaythai. Although the prestigious Lumphinee and Rajadamern stadiums still hold a men-only policy there are more and more all-female competitions beginning to emerge.
In 1996 the WMC broke old traditions by establishing female only events with a weekly television show at Rangsit stadium which was the official female stadium. From then on female sport developed and IFMA included female muaythai in the world championship programme from 1998 onwards with only 8 teams participating at that time. In 2002 the number went up to nearly 30 and it was Australia’s Amy Birch who received the first official best female trophy out of the hands of Her Royal Highness Sirivannavari Nariratan making history and from then on every year the numbers expanded with today 100 national federations participating in female competitions showing the popularity of the sport and full inclusion of IOC patronised events such as the World Combat Games, Asian Beach Games, Asian Indoor Martial Art Games, SEA Games and now officially included in the World Games and the FISU World Championship programme. Equality is a very important part of WMC and IFMA values, and the female development, especially in Islamic countries is proof that the power of sport can make a difference.
Today commercially females from around the world fill the stadiums, many of them reached equal popularity in many countries for example Sweden, where the females have overtaken the men by far. This is very much in contrast to many other male dominated sports and WMC and IFMA sees this development as fundamental in universality and equality.
Many other sports have now also included females, for example boxing where women have been allowed to box in the Olympics since 2012 which was a milestone for females across the world, although from Thailand only 3 males qualified. This year however Peamwilai Laopeam will be the first Thai female boxer to compete in the Olympics and many are confident she will bring home a medal.
Commercially the future for female muaythai looks very bright with many preparing for the IOC and OCA patronised games where the girls can walk side by side with their male counterparts to represent their countries, their gyms and above all themselves as an equal in many countries and IFMA and WMC is very proud of this development.
