The Cultural Finals at the IFMA European Championships 2025 brought tradition to the forefront, showcasing the ceremonial essence and heritage of Muaythai in front of an appreciative audience in Athens.
Ahead of the finals, IFMA organised a dedicated workshop for all athletes and coaches taking part in the cultural disciplines. Led by Kru Gkitsas together with IFMA Technical Official Jens Wilke, the session walked participants through the scoring structure, technical criteria, artistic objectives, and the philosophy behind Wai Kru and Mai Muay. This initiative ensured clarity, fairness, and confidence for all those competing in the cultural elements of the championships.
Once competition began, the finals delivered a remarkable celebration of Muaythai’s cultural heart. Athletes from Greece, Ukraine, and Azerbaijan presented routines rich in symbolism, structure, rhythm, and emotion — honouring lineage, teachers, respect, and identity.
In the Senior Female Wai Kru finals, Ukraine’s Iryna Ladynenko secured gold with an elegant and refined performance, while Greece celebrated silver through Konstantina Dioleta, and bronze through Eftychia Gkitsa.
The Senior Male Wai Kru division saw Greece take the top step of the podium once more, as Ioannis Pappas delivered a compelling, technically detailed performance to earn gold. Ukraine’s Valerii Denysov claimed silver, with Azerbaijan’s Elshan Malikov completing the podium.
The evening concluded with the Mai Muay finals, representing the artistic, expressive, and storytelling branch of Muaythai tradition.
Team Greece earned gold with a beautifully synchronised performance by Ioannis Pappas and Ioannis Vlachopoulos, displaying rhythm, precision, and deep cultural awareness.
Team Azerbaijan secured the silver medal, with Tunar Amirov and Mehdi Salimov showcasing a strong showcase of technique, timing, and interpretation.
Together, these finals underscored that Muaythai is far more than a combat sport. It is a living cultural tradition — a legacy of respect, gratitude, and artistry passed from teacher to student, generation to generation.
As the Championships move toward their final bouts in the ring, the spirit of the Cultural Finals remains a reminder of what lies at the very core of Muaythai: heritage, humility, and honour.
