AYUTTHAYA, Thailand, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's historic city of Ayutthaya held an annual boxing ceremony to celebrate the deep-rooted heritage of Muay Thai in a bid to reinforce the global appeal of the national martial art and promote tourism.
Over 800 Muay Thai practitioners across the globe attended the 17th World Wai Kru Muay Thai Ceremony on Monday. Wearing the auspicious headband, they performed synchronized Wai Kru dance, a time-honored tradition of paying homage to their masters, against the stunning backdrop of the ancient capital's ruins.
This internationally recognized Muay Thai event is part of Thailand's efforts to promote its cultural soft power through sports tourism activities, drawing thousands of participants from 43 countries and regions, Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong told Xinhua at the ceremony.
Sorawong said many Chinese people are interested in Muay Thai, and Thailand hopes to take this opportunity to further strengthen cultural exchange by promoting Muay Thai training in China, as the two countries celebrate their 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year.
Visiting the Southeast Asian country specifically for the ceremony, Chinese mixed martial arts athlete Ma Jiawen said he was deeply moved by the overwhelming passion for Muay Thai and the friendly atmosphere among participants, inspiring him to return in the future.
British Muay Thai fighter Alfie Pearse said he has been practicing Thai boxing for five years and "really enjoyed" the festival. "With respect to Muay Thai, it's truly special to live along with the culture in Thailand," he said.
Aya Kadi, a 16-year-old Lebanese boxer who has been competing professionally for the past two years, said she aspires to take part in more international events and achieve notable career success.
Attending the ceremony with her team, Indonesian boxer Monica started training in Muay Thai at the age of 15 under the guidance of her elder brother, who is also her coach.
"Muay Thai is more than just a martial art. It can become a career, and through dedicated training, I hope to win world boxing titles," the 20-year-old said.
According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the ceremony served as a driver for experience-based tourism, inspiring visitors with cultural charm while boosting the local economy through extended stays and increased visitor spending.
The two-day event, hosted at the UNESCO-listed Ayutthaya Historical Park, featured live demonstrations of four traditional Muay Thai styles and interactive training sessions with expert fighters, and also showcased Thai handicrafts, cultural and contemporary performances, and local cuisine.
