The World Championships 2016 in the city of Jonkoping, Sweden is the biggest muaythai event this year with thousands of participants registering for the event. For all the participants it is also a chance to get their spot in the World Games 2017 as the World Championships 2016 is an official qualifier to the Games in Wroclaw, Poland.
The Bangkok Royal World Cup was the first official qualifier of all sports which will be staged in the official programme of the World Games, and the world discovered the names of female and male muaythai athletes who will represent their country in Poland.
The finals of the 2015 Royal World Cup were very exciting and close giving the audience a true spirit of competition and fair rivalry. The stakes were very high and only one could make it to the highest step of the podium and get the long cherished right to go to the city of Wroclaw.
The World Championships in Sweden will be another chance for runners-up to be in the second leg of those who will join the World Games 2017 campaign and we would like to present you those who will have proven that they deserve it.
In the 57 kg male division, Konstantin Trishyn, the Ukrainian multiple champion and the captain of the Ukrainian muaythai team will again step in to the ring after he came second in the bout with Comte Wewart who, after his gold medal at the Royal World Cup was nominated for Athlete of the Year on the World Games website.
In 63.5 kg, Itay Guer will again have to make the way from the beginning to the final to get his spot in the World Games after he lost to another Ukrainian Igor Liubchenko for whom 2015 was a triumphant year when he was awarded with the breakthrough of the year from the Ukrainian Olympic Committee.
The female muaythai bout has given all spectators who gathered at the National Stadium, a competition which will be remembered for many years as all the biggest names came to Bangkok to become the first ones bringing the medals home and receive the title of an official player of the World Games 2017.
In the 54 kg weight division, two Scandinavians met in the final, showing again that Sweden has been rightfully chosen as the host of the World Championships. Aho Andra from Estonia competed against Sofia Olofsson, Sweden, and it was Sofia who won the gold as well as the Queen’s Cup donated by Her Majesty. For Sofia this meant true recognition as, being the host of the 2016 World Championships, she became a real celebrity in Sweden.
IFMA congratulates all athletes who qualified for the World Games 2017. For those who are coming to Sweden to qualify we wish you the best of luck and that you use the opportunity to become part of such a tremendous event like the World Games.
Celebrating the AIMS recognition by the IOC we can only be thankful to the backbone of our organsation who have put in so much sacrifice and we only can say thank you.
