Dubai: Amateur boxers from the UAE returned from Thailand after gaining valuable experience on the international stage earlier this week.
The UAE contingent to the World Amateur Muay Thai Championship 2006, organised by International Federation Muaythai Amateur (IFMA), consisted of two boxers along with officials Mohammad Abbas and Vladimir Burdun.
Ayman Ben Ali participated in the 75-81kgs category, while Hajmeddin Al Hadad took part in the 57-60kgs light weight category in Division B.
Both boxers from the UAE train at the Martial Arts Academy Sports Club in Dubai, and this is the first time that they were participating in such a prestigious competition.
Boxers were divided into Male A and B class, Female class and Juniors.
The B division in the male competition means that boxers from countries where Muay Thai is still developing have the chance to compete for a medal on an even playing field and it lessens the chances of mis-matches in the earlier rounds.
In light heavyweight, Ben Ali lost his preliminary round bout to Ben Sorensen from Papua New Guinea. The promising Al Hadad was also unfortunate to come up against a strong opponent like Roberto C. Bolofer from the Philippines, eventually losing on points.
The World Amateur Muay Thai Championship 2006 took place at the MCC Mall Bang Kapi Hall in Bangkok with 441 athletes from 70 countries participating.
"Although both our fighters lost in the preliminary rounds of this competition, the signs are very encouraging for the sport of Muay Thai in the UAE," noted Mohammad Abbas from the Martial Arts Academy Sports Club, Dubai.
The UAE contingent did not return empty-handed, however as Jabar Askerov took the second place in the professional Thai boxing programme.
