Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Muaythai exponents shone on the international stage again as they delivered the only silver and three of the five bronze medals won by the national contingent at the 3rd Asian Youth Games Bahrain 2025 Asian Muaythai Championship.
Auryelle Xzandra Bobby, who took the silver in the Girls’ Wai Kru (14-15) category, scored 8.80 points and lost the title by 0.20 points to Lyre Anie Ngina of the Philippines.
The three bronze medals were won by Ariesya Dania in the Girls’ Wai Kru (16-17), Jaethan Quan in the Boys’ Wai Kru (14–15) and the mixed Mai Muay (14-17) pair of Jaethan and Bethany Lai.
The other two bronzes came from the combat event through Selangor’s Mia Nur Amani in the Girls’ 48kg 14-15 and Perak’s Mohd Haikal in the boys’ 45kg 14-15.
Malaysia was represented by a nine-member squad and the three other athletes were Nur Bisyarah, Nur Arisya Sofia and Muhd Ramadhani Razqi.
Team manager was En Saiful and Cyrille Dhillon Tahing was the head coach with fellow Sabahan Mardiana Mohd Maulana as cultural coach.
Cyrille, who was full of praise for the whole team, said the success of the trip was not just based on winning medals for the athletes.
“I am proud of the entire Malaysian Muaythai team at this event. Everyone demonstrated outstanding fighting spirit, discipline and focus.
“They stepped into the ring with courage and pride, carrying the Malaysian flag with honour. For me, this achievement is not only about medals, but also about the maturity, determination and progress they have shown on the international stage.
“It certainly reflected the continuous effort of our coaches and the strength of our grassroots development programmes nationwide and I am hopeful they will continue to elevate Malaysian Muaythai to greater heights,” he said.
Meanwhile, the contingent was welcomed by top National Sports Council officials upon their arrival at KLIA on Tuesday.
