SOCHI – In March 2015 IFMA, the International Federation of Muaythai, hosted the first Muaythai University World Cup under patronage of FISU, which turned out to be a great success in terms of tournament level and participation level. Starting from 2018, the combat sport will join the FISU sports programme with the inaugural edition of the World University Muay Thai Championship.
In the framework defined by FISU for new sports to join its programme, the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA) undertook the organization of the 1st Muaythai University World Cup, in Bangkok (Thailand). Just under 40 countries participated in the 8-day event with many student-athletes openly expressing their desire to see this sport progress further in FISU. The sport and in particular the event where very well organized, fully meeting FISU’s criteria and equally impressing all attending delegates. IFMA President Dr Sakchye Tapsuwan, expressed his deep desire to see this event have continuity within FISU and the University Sport Movement.
FISU President Gallien & IFMA President Sakchye Tapsuwan sign the collaboration convention
During the week in Bangkok, IFMA organized a Youth Education and Sports Forum that was attended by local high dignitaries, as well as representatives from UN Women Regional Programme for Ending Violence Against Women and the SportAccord Integrity Advisor, among others. Another staged activity focused on social responsibility with Dr Sakchye Tapsuwan leading delegates to the Sport Is Your Gang location in Bangkok, where FISU World University Championships Director Paulo Ferreira and around 200 other VIPs and guests from over 40 countries joined in a morning of fun when kids in the campaign showcased Muay Aerobic and Muay Boran, all parts of the IFMA disciplines of Muaythai.
At the current SportAccord Convention in Sochi, Russia, FISU delegates Claude-Louis Gallien (President), Oleg Matytsin (1st Vice-President) and Eric Saintrond (Secretary-General/CEO) met with representatives of many ISFs and signed collaboration conventions with no less than 11 partner ISFs. At a cocktail hosted by IFMA, FISU signed the latest convention with the international governing body of muaythai.
IFMA President Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan expressed his satisfaction that IFMA is now a partner of FISU, while FISU President Gallien stressed the importance of sports and friendship.
The cocktail was graced by a performance of traditional muaythai.
C. Pierre, Press Officer