The growing of ‘angels’ in the Muay Thai world
In recent years there has been a dramatic rise in the popularity of combat sports among women, and of course this has led to an exponential increase of women practicing the art of muay thai both at competitive and amateur level.
Muay thai finally managed to escape the label of a violent sport prerogative only of a certain substratum of society even in its country of origin, Thailand, where now the number of female practitioners has become very high peaking among the youngsters.
This must be seen in contrast with the sharp decline in popularity of muay thai among young men whose interest has been largely absorbed by football.
It is not strange, although in the three main Bankgok’s stadiums women are still not allowed to compete, to see in the other promotions present in Thailand a very high number of female match ups that sometimes exceed in quantity and quality the male ones.
Let’s mention as curiosity the match that saw Sitjemam Muay Thai manager Mrs Mam come back to the stage at 41 years old on Tuesday 31 October at Thapae Stadium in Chiang Mai.
Mam easily controlled the relentless advance of Phetdokmeuy Phettonpueng (16 years old, coming from three consecutive wins) with a fimeu job, and despite suffering a light injury in the first round, she is able to manage all the rounds bringing home a well deserved UD.
Ultimately, we hope that Thai promoters will soon decide to keep up with the times, and start offering women more visibility and the actual possibilty to compete on conditions similar to men.
This would surely benefit the development of the sport by boosting a cleaner and more genuine image of Muay Thai and widening in this way the horizons of its market, that in the last few years apperead to be stagnant and lacking in innovation.