A row has sparked between Thailand and Cambodia over the origin of Muay Thai. As a result, Thailand has withdrawn from the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).
Cambodia, the host nation of the 2023 SEA Games, modified the title of the kickboxing competition from Muay Thai to Kun Khmer and stated that the origin of Muay Thai is Cambodian.
The results of Cambodia’s change has led to a ban from the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA).
Cambodia announced on Saturday, January 21 that the upcoming SEA Games on May 5 to 17 would come with 37 sports, and that the kickboxing competition shall be modified to Kun Khmer.
Classified insists that Kun Khmer, or Bokator, is the county’s conventional martial art and the origin of Muay Thai. They added they’re changing the title to celebrate the country’s heritage however keep all of the authentic rules.
The IFMA objected to the change. IFMA President Sakchai Thapsuwan said that the laws of the SEA Games state clearly that the kickboxing sport must be named Muay Thai.
Sakchai stated that the federation has despatched letters to the 11 member nations to ban the game. Any country that participates in Kun Khmer would be banned from joining the World Games, Asian Indoor Games, Asian Martial Arts Games, and World Boxing Championship.
The Muay Thai athletes from Thailand have withdrawn from the competition in protest.
The concern is a scorching topic on Thai and Cambodian social media. Netizens from both countries discussed and gathered proof to prove the origin of kickboxing.
A picture of Kun Khmer or Bogato fighters was circulated on Thai and Cambodian social media.
Cambodian netizens claimed that the 2 individuals within the picture are Cambodian Kun Khmer fighters. However, the individual within the image stepped forward and revealed that he, and the person within the snap, are 100%, Thai residents. The picture was also taken in Thailand, within the Isaan province of Surin.
The secretary of the Cambodian SEA Games Organising Committee (CAMSOC), Vath Chamroeun, told the Cambodian news agency, Post Khmer, that Cambodia would use the title Kun Khmer even if Thailand was not pleased with it.
The secretary acknowledged that six member international locations, including Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Laos, Myanmar, and Malaysia, ignored the ban and confirmed they will take part in the recreation underneath its new title.
Vath added that Cambodia is not going to join any Muay Thai competitions when Thailand hosts the SEA Games in 2025. Vath said…
“If Cambodia isn’t allowed to make use of the identify of the country’s martial arts in the SEA Games, Thailand shouldn’t be allowed to make use of it both.”