The final day of the Youth World Muaythai Championships 2019 could be easily compared to the IFMA Elite events as the two best IFMA youth athletes got to the final to clash over the title of the 2019 Youth World Champion. The atmosphere at the stadium was charged to the bursting point every time finalists names were called to the field of play. It was an amazing contrast of emotions as the winners’ hand was raised and the runner up was preparing to receive silver medal.

IFMA can proudly say that the new generation of Muaythai athletes is ready to make competition for the Elite and follow the steps of the current champions who successfully transitioned from youth the seniors like Aik Begyan (RUS) and Zoe Poutorak.

 

Mykyta Goncharenko (UKR – 16 -17 Male Youth -60kg) entered his first and last Youth World Muaythai Championships with a bang as he celebrates winning the gold medal in Antalya. Next year he will turn 18 and will have to prove his talent among the elite of the world Muaythai.

 

Tierra Brandt (USA – 16 -17 Female Youth -57kg) is leaving the youth events in a status of the two times world champion with flawless record in IFMA events of 7 victories and 0 losses. Team USA already challenges top teams in the event rankings. The total number of more than 70 people at the Youth World Muaythai Championships speaks for the great management in the federation and Tierra is a bright result of the amazing work USMF does to promote the sport.

The Lebanese female athletes made an outstanding contribution towards the team result as Maya Kalash and Sirene Hadara became the world champions. The President of the Lebanese Muaythai Federation Mr. Sami Kiblawi should take credit for the very strong programme on the female empowerment through Muaythai. Truly bright example for all the countries.

Moldovan rising star Vladimir Ogorodnicov doubled his golden record concluding his performance in the youth divisions. Great effort from Moldova which has very promising youth transitioning to the Elite division.
We witness the rise of two amazing athletes which clashed in the final for the second time. (NED) Quinty An Klein Gotink and (IRL) Chloe Black compete in 12 -13 Female Youth -46kg but demonstrate amazing skills. They still have way to go in the youth divisions which already keeps the Malaysian Youth event an intriguing one in their division. This time Quinty again stole the victory from the Irish who will definitely want to have a rematch in Malaysia.

 

(BEL) Gianny De Leu made his homework well before his last youth championships. If last year his Thai opponent stopped him in the semifinal, this time it was Gianny who left no chance to Thailand on the first stage of the competition. As a result gold medal and amazing performance from the young Belgian. Gianny had 5 bouts fighting every day of the competition. A truly champion’s race propelling himself to the top!

 

The IFMA Youth World Muaythai Championships see ever more refined athletes as every year the youth show higher level of Muaythai. See the full list of the winners at IFMA Registration. 
Congratulations to all the winners and Malaysia 2020 will see bright bouts with skills worth Elite.