When Winnia Leow first picked up muay thai as a 15-year-old, she had to hide it from her parents as she was afraid that they would stop her as the sport was perceived as violent and male-dominated.
Today, the 25-year-old trains young enthusiasts at martial arts gym Pineapple MMA and is one of Singapore's most exciting female prospects in the sport. The super flyweight (52kg) is also 17th in the World Boxing Council (WBC) muay thai rankings.
Leow, who had her first amateur fight at 18, won the WBC Muay Thai MuayYing Prestige Championship after beating Hong Kong's Penny Fung at the Royal Thai Embassy in Singapore on Aug 31.
Her growth in the martial art, along with muay thai's transformation from a traditionally male-dominated discipline to a fitness activity embraced by people of all ages and genders, highlight its global rise. Leow noted that it has become increasingly mainstream, driven by fitness influencers and gyms promoting it for conditioning and self-defence, not just for combat.
Leow said: "Back then, there were not many girls doing the sport and for any girl looking to get into it, it would have been very daunting. Your training partners were men.
この記事は The Straits Times の September 29, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Straits Times の September 29, 2024 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
Dedication To Sushi Tradition
An iron law of sushi holds that the more impressive the restaurant, the smaller the sign.
Squid Game 2 cast play five stones, sepak takraw
In K-drama Squid Game (2021 to present), players take on children's games for a hefty cash prize in the hit Netflix series. But how would the cast fare playing children's games known to Singaporean and regional audiences?
Sequels take nine of 10 slots in US box office in 2024
In 2023, Hollywood's creative community was celebrating the apparent decline of corporate, paint-by-numbers sequels and remakes.
Zhao Lusi says she was abused and is suffering from depression
The year may have just begun, but the Chinese entertainment scene has already been hit by controversy. Chinese actress Zhao Lusi (right) revealed in a post on Weibo on Jan 1 that she was a victim of physical abuse at the workplace and is now suffering from depression.
Jungkook Is First Asian Artiste To Surpass 2.1 Billion Streams With One Song On Spotify
K-pop boy band juggernaut BTS’ member Jungkook is the first Asian artiste to surpass 2.1 billion streams on Spotify with one song.
Comfort Meets Style
Young employees are increasingly switching out formal suits and ties for more expressive dressing styles
Down-to-earth home with stories to tell
Artist and stylist Geraldine Toh's apartment project combines art, design elements and an earthy sensibility with the colour ochre
Tampines legend Kopitovic makes staggering Bali move
When Boris Kopitovic first arrived in Singapore to join BG Tampines Rovers in 2020, few expected the Montenegrin forward to make a lasting impact.
LEE IMMERSING IN GREECE
World Aquatics scholarship recipient quits job to pursue water polo dreams
Gunners On Fire Despite Virus
They overcome bug outbreak to overturn Brentford's advantage for crucial victory
