Rangsit Stadium has a proud history. Established in 1962, its purpose was to promote muaythai around the Pathumthani Province.
In 1980, Mr. Amuay Kesbumrung, who is a member of the Executives of the Amateur Associations of Thailand and board member of the World Muaythai Council and Committee Member of IFMA, started to build his own standard stadium. In 1995, Rangsit became the official WMC Stadium and also hosted the first IFMA Prince Cup. The vision of Rangsit, under the patronage of WMC and IFMA was clear to promote muaythai to all abilities and genders. Other traditional stadiums in Thailand like Lumpini and Rajadamnern stadiums, did not allow female athletes to compete, which WMC and IFMA saw as a clear discrimination against the female members of the family.
In 1997, General Chetta Thanajaro, the President of the World Muaythai Council, the late General Vorayudh Meesommon, the President of IFMA and Mr. Amuay announced an agreement to the muaythai world in Thailand to start to promote officially, Muay Ying. There was a lot of unhappiness and opposition for this project in Thailand but it was about gender equality, equal opportunity and getting muaythai recognized as an international sport and martial art.
In 1998, the official Muay Ying program started. Twice a week, Thai and international female athletes had a chance to compete under the same rules and regulations as their male counterparts. It was during this time that the muaythai world in Thailand started to accept the female muaythai circuit where female athletes from around the world travelled to the Kingdom to participate on the same stage in Rangsit. Soon after, different provinces in Thailand started to promote. Female and male world title fights were held under the WMC in the same ring in every part of Thailand.
It has taken stadiums like Lumpini, nearly 25 years to catch up and open the doors to female muaythai, but in the end, it is all built on the simple belief of the WMC, IFMA and Rangsit to ensure that discrimination has no place in any sport.
Thank you to all the visionaries who have laid the foundation for today. The late General Vorayudh Meesommon, General Chetta Thanajaro, Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan and Kajorn Prowsri who had a vision over 30 years ago to ensure inclusivity, non-discrimination and equal opportunities.
The Female World of Muaythai must say thank you.It has taken stadiums like Lumpini, nearly 25 years to catch up and open the doors to female muaythai, but in the end, it is all built on the simple belief of the WMC, IFMA and Rangsit to ensure that discrimination has no place in any sport.
