Arafura Games

As we will be leaving for Darwin today, I probably won't be able to update this blog as often as I'd like. However I will do my best to give you all the latest news and results.
I hope to be able to share the atmosphere surrounding our fighters at this international event.

The Arafura Games, Darwin, Australia

We will be sending a contingent of 11 people to the Arafura Games which will be held in Darwin Northern Australia from the 9th through to the 15 of may.
The contingent will consist of 6 athletes, 2 referees and 3 team officials.

The Malaysian athletes who will be participating in the games are-

Mohd Sukri Hasan-Bantam 51-54kg, Mohd Ali Yaakub-Feather 54-57kg,Ismail Ramli-Light 57-60kg, Mohd Noramin Ibrahim-Light Welter 60-63.5kg,Mohd Faizal Ramli-Welter 63.5-67kg and Mohd Azwan Omar-Super Heavy 91kg+.

We will also be sending 2 referees/jurors Wan Azmi Wan Omar and Md Farek Md Urep to gain experience at international level. This will be Md Farek's second time refereeing at an international event, he was also on duty at the IFMA World Championships at the Tafisa Games in Busan, Korea last year.


The Arafura Games which is IOC and GAISF sanctioned is one of Asia-Pacific's premier sporting events used by emerging champions to gain experience and exposure at a regional level. The next step on will be the SEA Games, Asian Games and World Championships .

We very nearly had to miss the games due to the swine flu outbreak but we were fortunate to get a last minute go ahead from the Ministry of Health to attend the Games.

We would have also liked to include the best athletes from several other camps but unfortunately, upon inquiry and due to the last minute nature of the arrangements, most of these athletes were either injured or engaged else where. We truly hope fighters such as Tengku Shahrizal and other gifted Malaysian Nak Muays will be able to join us in future games. Someone like Tengku, with experience in amateur boxing, would be sure to excel in amateur Muaythai as it is point based sport and much faster than traditional Muaythai.

This kind of exposure at internationally recognised events will prove invaluable to these young athletes. And we hope to see Malaysia's best in the SEA Games at the end of the year. Let us all work hard and be united in building Muaythai in Malaysia and choosing the best to represent our country in these games.

IFMA link

The Star, Metro

Wednesday May 6, 2009

Boxer to spruce up on his English

By NG WEI LOON

AFTER securing his spot as the second Malaysian competitor to be in the second season of The Contender Asia, Malaysian Tigers’ Faizal Ramli will need to improve on his communication skills as part of his preparation.

The 19-year-old will be attending English classes for two hours every day while refining his combat skills with a two-month training stint in Thailand before the cameras start to roll at the end of June.

Faizal, who is the fourth of 10 siblings, said he was excited about the opportunity of a lifetime to appear in the reality show.

“However, I am feeling a bit nervous because I am quiet by nature. But, I am willing to put in the effort to overcome my shortcomings and not allow it to prevent me from giving my best shot.

Golden Elbow: Faizal will have to improve on his communication skills.

“This is a chance for me to make the grade and lift my family out of poverty,” he added.

Considering that another exponent Mohd Muinuddin Khadir representing the Malaysian Tigers suffered an early defeat at the recent Super Eight qualifier in Kelantan, Faizal provided the joy for the camp based at the World Muay Thai (WMC) Malaysia Gym in Kelana Jaya.

En route to victory, the lad from Pasir Puteh, Kelantan, maintained his unbeaten run, bringing the impeccable track record up to 41 bouts thus far.

“I did not want to let the people at my village and my team down because they turned up in full force and threw their support behind me. It was a meaningful outing especially savouring the victory in front of the home crowd,” said Faizal, who is also known as the “Golden Elbow”.

In the opening encounter, Faizal subdued seasoned campaigner Khoo Meng Yang (“Red Dragon”) from TNT Kickboxing Malaysia in a bout that went the full distance of three rounds.

He went on to knock out the unknown Wes Jaya of BoxxWarriors Gym with a blow using his trademark elbow in the second round for a place in the final.

Rising star: Faizal (left) will be joining Malaysian Tigers captain Bernard for a two-month training stint in Thailand before the cameras start to roll.

“It was a tough match-up against Wes because I have not seen him in action before. For a start, it was harder to predict his moves. Based on my thorough training, I was physically well prepared for the occasion,” Faizal said.

In the other semi-final, another BoxxWarriors Gym representative Abdul Alif Mohd Zulkifli overturned the formbook and sprang a surprise to move on to the final defeating a renowned contender Tengku Shahrizal of Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM).

However, Alif’s campaign came to an end as Faizal floored him with a combination of a knee strike followed by punch to score a perfect finish in the final.

Faizal will return to Lamai Gym in Koh Samui, Thailand, with Malaysian Tigers captain Bernard “Headhunter” Radin to improve on their boxing techniques for a month and the duo will head for Bangkok to gain quality sparring as their final phase preparation.

The 37-year-old Bernard who earned his spot in the King’s Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, in December last year, said the team had faith in Faizal to come through and join him in the highly anticipated show.

“We knew that he had the potential to excel. It took a while for him to believe in his own ability. He certainly proved his worth at the recent qualifiers.

“Faizal was very confident and stayed in control against his opponents. This will be a good stepping stone for us and it will inspire others in the team to keep on striving for good results. Now, our aim is to be worthy ambassadors for the country and stay in contention as long as possible in the show,” he added.

WMC News

28/04/09 - Malaysian in Contender Asia Fever

Over 6000 people filled the Kelantan Stadium forming an atmosphere never seen before in Malaysia for the Malaysian Contender qualifier.

FULL STORY

Team 'Tiger '

Contrary to what some of you might think, developing fighters is definitely not an easy task. It's like raising a family, each kid (fighter) is different, some better mannered than others, some harder working but all have feelings and emotions and cannot be treated like machines. Like raising a family you get a lot gratification when your fighters do well, eventually you don't only want them to succeed in the ring but in life! We don't ever want to see our fighters as washed out has beens, we want to one day see them happily settled with their own gyms......hey maybe even with their own reality TV shows .........watch out Stephan Fox............


Menjaga dan mendidik peninju seperti membimbing anak kita sendiri, ada yang bersopan-santun, ada yang rajin,ada yang kurang berdisiplin........seperti dalam sesebuah keluarga anaknya semuanya berlainan kerenah. Walau bagaimanapun semuanya perlu dijaga seperti adik/anak sendiri dan dilayan dengan adil. Kami bukan sekadar mahu melihat peninju kami berjaya sekarang tetapi juga pada masa depan. Kami ingin melihat peninju kami mencipta nama digelanggang dunia, dan bila tiba masanya bersara, kami berharap peninju kami akan membuka pusat latihan sendiri....... mungkin peninju kami dapat mengacara rangkaian realiti sendiri........seperti Stephan Fox

Mail helps out with Bernard's 5 year old daughter Sasha by the sea, who would've guessed these tougher than nails fighters could be so gentle out of the ring. But don't get me wrong I wouldn't cross with these guys or hurt one of their own as they are fiercly protective of their extended family.Abang Wan and his wife Kak Ani along with Pak Hasan, Pok Nik and Abang 'Contender' were flown out to Port Dickson as a special thanks for a job well done!
Sebagai tanda terima kasih atas pertolongan mereka dalam menjayakan acara Contender Asia Malaysian Qualifier.Pak Hasan-Pengerusi Persatuan Seni Tomoi Kelantan, Abang Wan, Kak Ani, , Pok Nik dan juga Abang 'Contender' telah diterbangkan dari Kota Bharu ke Subang untuk meraikan kejayaan acara kami bersama team 'Tigers' di Port Dickson.
Their smiles say it all.
Semuanya tersurat dalam senyuman.
Bernard & Faizal

Goodbye!! To Ropi, Emin and the Jetski..........This picture was taken moments before Ropi capsized the Jetski. Not many items of machinery can stand up to these guys!!!
Gambar ini diambil sejurus sebelum jetski ini tenggelam!!!!!!

'Thanksgiving' prayers were held for Faizal's recent win and also for the future success of both Bernard and Faizal in the Contender Asia Season II and also all the 'Tigers'.
Majlis 'doa kesyukuran' telah dilangsungkan.

Kami amat bersyukur atas kejayaan Faizal, Bernard dan seluruh pasukan Malaysian Tigers.

And later that night we all celebrated with a barbeque of well marinated chicken and beef. There was also some fish, sotong, sausages, fried rice ...................etc

Malam itu diakhiri dengan hidangan ayam, daging, ikan,sotong panggang..........................
We were fortunate to be treated to fabulous 'kenduri kahwin' food on the way back from Port Dickson. Our 'Team Tigers' members were invited by Saiful, to a family wedding where we were treated to a great meal and karaoke. Where yet again Mat Ropi was the star crooner!

Preview-Celebration after the fight!

Sneak Preview-The Malaysian Tigers team and some of the people who helped us out in our event were treated to a night in Port Dickson for a job well done at the Contender Asia Malaysian Qualifier, Super 8..............

there was sun....surf..............and more
Ali's new career choice as life guard at the Regency.....................

Ropi's new career as a singer (a'la Karaoke)...................

Stay tuned tomorrow..................for more in depth coverage