Perfect show: Myra Amira Rosalan (right) and Yan Jia Chi won the wai kru mai event for Sabah in the muay thai competition.
TEENAGERS Myra Amira Rosalan and Yan Jia Chi are hopeful of making it to the Cambodia SEA Games next year after pulling off a historic win for Sabah in the muay thai Malaysia Games (Sukma) competition.
The two 18-year-olds from Kota Kinabalu put up an energetic routine to collect 8.90 points to win the wai kru mai (non-sparring) final at South City Plaza in Seri Kembangan yesterday.
Silver went to the pair of Nur Ameera Mohd Asri and Nurul Ain Ismail of Federal Territories, who managed 8.83 points.
Bronze medals went to losing semi-finallists – Sarawak’s Nur Afiqah Musrifah-Nur Arifah Masunah and Melaka’s Angelina James-Nur Aliah Akhma.
Myra, who has been involved in the sport for five years, was pleased to extend their winning form to Sukma.
“We won the gold in the World Youth Championships held in Sunway Pyramid last month, so this is our second win this year,” said Myra.
“I started the sport five years ago but I’ve only been partnering Jia Chi for three years.
“I guess the longer training period helped us improve on our technique and posture,” added Myra, who is hopeful of becoming a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter one day.
Jia Chia said the Cambodia SEA Games would be their next target.
“We hope to be considered for the SEA Games as the wai kru mai will be included in muay thai.
“We will compete in the national championships next year to fight for selection.”
The duo have never competed in the SEA Games as the minimum age of eligibility is 16 for the sport.
Sabah missed out on a second gold after a narrow defeat for Darris Muzzamiel Mahadi and Thien Zhi Cheng in the men’s final.
The Sabah pair registered 9.00 points to settle for silver behind Federal Territories’ Mohd Ali Ismail and Mohd Taufiq Izazi Safiee, who managed 9.10 points.
Sabah team manager Nazri Abdul Razak was thrilled as it was their first muay thai gold medal in Sukma competition.
“The women were impressive while the men tried their best but it was not meant to be for us,” said Nazri.
“We’ve achieved our target to win one gold and we hope to have fighters in the final in the combat categories tomorrow.”
A total of 14 finals will take place on the last day of competition.
