KOTA BHARU: The government has been urged to allocate funds in Budget 2027 to construct a dedicated Muay Thai stadium in Kelantan to boost talent development and sports tourism in the state.
Muay Thai coach Mohamad Ridhwan Mat Zain said such a facility is crucial to creating a structured development pathway with comprehensive amenities for fighters at novice, amateur, semi-professional, professional, and international levels.
"Muay Thai is not just about training, it is about gauging our capability and level. With a dedicated stadium, hosting events becomes easier and serves as a benchmark for fighters," he told Bernama recently.
He said the lack of a fixed venue makes hosting regular tournaments challenging because most events take place in open areas where the ring must be set up and dismantled after each competition.
Besides serving as a dedicated training hub, supporting facilities like a physiotherapy centre and full training equipment within the stadium are necessary to help athletes prepare effectively.
"Overseas, facilities are fully equipped, including training areas, physiotherapy units, competition preparation zones, spectator seating, and superior rings. They are also able to organise events more frequently.
"Organised facilities can attract more youths to take up Muay Thai. When there is a stadium and training centre, youths have a clear venue, a sport to pursue, and structured training sessions, which can ultimately help curb social ills," he said.
Mohamad Ridhwan added that developing the facility holds potential for transforming Kelantan into a sports tourism destination capable of attracting promoters, fighters, and fans from both home and abroad.
He added that hosting tournaments and training camps would boost local hospitality, food and beverage, and employment sectors and extend tourists' average length of stay.
"Tourists visiting for sports-related events are also likely to extend their stay if they find themselves drawn to other tourism products in Kelantan," he said.
Meanwhile, Muay Thai athlete Fakhru Zaim Mohd Firdaus, 22, said a dedicated stadium would provide athletes a more comfortable environment to improve performance and encourage more young people to develop their talent in the sport.
Echoing similar sentiment, Mohamad Danial Hakim Mohd Affandi, 22, expressed hope the government would realise the dream of building the stadium to help athletes train in better conditions, especially for competition preparation.
"For us as athletes, comprehensive training facilities are vital so that every session can be conducted effectively and tournament preparations can be executed seamlessly," he said.- Bernama
