The creation of the university club positions higher education as a key driver in the growth structure of Muaythai in Senegal, integrating sports training, education and social development. The initiative forms part of a broader national vision for the development of sport, at a time of increasing international attention on the country and its commitment to youth and sport.

The university as a driver of Muaythai development in Senegal

UCAD, widely regarded as the country’s leading university, brings together students from all regions, ranging from major cities to rural areas. This diversity turns the new university club into a strategic platform to extend Muaythai beyond the academic setting and support its expansion across the national territory.

The approval of the club is the result of a process launched in 2022 and led by the national federation under the presidency of Papa Abdou Karim Diop. The federation president has consistently highlighted the role of universities as spaces for comprehensive education and as channels for the nationwide dissemination of Muaythai, a vision that is now beginning to take shape with the institutional backing of UCAD.

A project aligned with Senegal’s international projection

The new university club also gains relevance in the context of Senegal’s participation in international university competitions, such as the World University Championships organised by the International University Sports Federation -FISU-, scheduled to take place in Brazil. The university structure will enable talent identification, strengthen athletes’ technical preparation and facilitate their access to high-level competition.

This development coincides with the momentum generated by the Dakar Youth Olympic Games, the first Olympic event to be held on African soil, which has placed youth, education and sport at the centre of public debate and national sports policies. The university initiative aligns with these values, reinforcing the role of sport as an educational and inclusive tool.

Training, expansion and the future of university Muaythai

The Senegalese federation emphasises that students trained at UCAD will act as ambassadors for Muaythai once they complete their studies, contributing to its expansion across different regions of the country. As Papa Abdou Karim Diop explained: “UCAD students come from all the cities of Senegal and, after their studies, they work in different areas of the country, which will allow them to spread and teach Muaythai following their university training.”

With the approval now formalised, the university club begins its activities with the aim of consolidating its structure, attracting new practitioners and becoming a reference point for Muaythai within the academic sphere. The initiative strengthens the growth strategy of the discipline in Senegal and opens a new pathway for development linked to higher education and the international projection of the sport.

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In the main event, Kim Townsend of Australia will defend her WMC World Light-Flyweight title against Switzerland’s Clémentine Eggs. Townsend arrives in Geneva as one of the most accomplished female athletes in modern Muaythai. She won the WMC Oceania flyweight title in 2015 and captured the WMC World Light-Flyweight crown in 2023 with a victory over Namwhan Sor Kongkraphan at Coastal Warfare 24. She later defended the belt in Brisbane against Nongnook, showing she can perform under pressure on the sport’s biggest stages. Townsend’s experience and composure make her a formidable opponent.

Standing across the ring is Clémentine Eggs, Switzerland’s rising star. She became WMC Swiss National Champion in September 2024 in Lausanne and captured the WMC European Mini-Flyweight title in Geneva by unanimous decision over France’s Chaina Tavares. Eggs’s rise through the European ranks represents a new era for Swiss Muaythai. For local fans, her challenge for the world title is more than a fight. It is a statement that Swiss athletes are ready to compete at the highest level.

Promoter Daniel Janista said the fight would keep everyone on edge.“You are looking at two of the most accomplished female athletes on the planet. There can only be one champion, but both will leave the ring as history-makers,” he said.

Leonardo Irmici, president of WMC Switzerland, said the bout reflected years of progress for the sport in the country. “Swiss Muaythai has earned its place. We may be small in size, but our athletes fight with the hearts of lions, and the world is starting to understand that,” he said.

With a world title on the line, elite athletes competing, and full recognition from international authorities, Geneva is ready to welcome the world and showcase Swiss Muaythai on the global stage. Switzerland is no longer a developing nation in the sport. It is a force, and Geneva is its proving ground.

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The new season also coincides with a key moment for athletes and national federations: the gradual activation of the Olympic qualification system. While the decisive phase will not begin until mid-season, the early distribution of points already shapes calendars, tournament choices and performance planning. Understanding how the International Judo Federation -IJF- ranking system works is now an essential part of performance. It is a system designed to reward consistency, excellence at major events and the ability to sustain results over time, rather than isolated success or occasional brilliance.

Where Olympic points are really won

Although Paris opens the year with one of the most iconic tournaments on the tour, the true turning point will come in June, with the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam, when the qualification process for Los Angeles 2028 officially begins. From that moment on, every result will count directly towards Olympic selection, increasing the strategic value of each competition.

The world ranking is built from results achieved at IJF. Judoka can earn points at continental Opens, Grand Prix, Grand Slams, Masters, continental championships, world championships and the Olympic Games themselves, with each category carrying a different weighting. This wide range of competitions offers multiple pathways to progress, but it also demands precise planning. Not all tournaments provide the same return in points, and the system is designed to reflect an athlete’s current competitive level, not just their accumulated résumé.

Points expire: constant pressure to perform

One of the cornerstones of the system is the expiration of points. For the first 12 months after a competition, points are counted at full value. After that period, they are reduced by 50%, and after 24 months they disappear entirely from the ranking. The time reference is strictly defined: calculations are based on official IJF calendar weeks, with Monday as the start of the week. This means a result can lose value immediately at the beginning of the corresponding week the following year, forcing athletes to maintain performance levels if they want to hold their ranking position.

The system does, however, include specific adjustments to ensure equal treatment across continents. Continental championships, for example, are considered as if they were all held in the same week, regardless of their actual dates. Their points reduction and expiration therefore apply uniformly, avoiding advantages linked to calendar timing. These rules are set out in the IJF Sport and Organisation Regulations and are part of a model designed to balance opportunities within a truly global circuit.

How ties are broken when everything is at stake

When two or more judoka finish with the same total number of ranking points, a clear hierarchy is applied. Priority is given to the highest sum of points earned at world championships, followed by results from Grand Prix, Grand Slams and Masters events. If equality remains, rankings are decided by comparing the best individual results, then the second-best, and so on.

In cases that directly affect Olympic qualification and cannot be resolved through technical criteria, the final decision rests with the IJF Executive Committee. In an Olympic cycle that has only just begun, the message is clear: the road to Los Angeles 2028 will be shaped by sustained excellence, smart scheduling and the ability to deliver when the points matter most.

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This withdrawal continues a long-standing pattern in which Iranian athletes avoid competing against Israelis, following directives from Tehran. While similar incidents in other sports have drawn scrutiny from international federations and the International Olympic Committee, the World Karate Federation has largely remained silent, taking no public action or sanctions.

The phenomenon is not new. In 2017, Iranian karateka Majid Hasaninia refused to face an Israeli opponent at the 21st Paris Open Karate Premier League in France. Scheduled to compete in the men’s under-60kg division, he was eliminated after missing his first-round match. In a later interview with Iranian media, Hasaninia said that although he personally covered all costs to participate and wanted to test his readiness, his convictions and support for the defenseless Palestinian people took precedence.

The pattern continued in 2022. Iranian athletes Saleh Abazari, Mehdi Khodabakhshi, and Keyvan Baban withdrew from the Karate1 Premier League in Fujairah after being drawn against Israeli opponents. Through an arrangement between the WKF and the Iranian Karate Federation, the three held symbolic matches a day before the main event to maintain their ranking points despite their absence from the official competition.

In another case at the Karate1 Premier League in Baku, senior Iranian referee Javad Salimi, former head of Iran’s national referees committee, refused to officiate a match involving an Israeli athlete. After raising the issue with the WKF refereeing panel, another referee was assigned. A year later, Salimi lost his refereeing badge for influencing player draws and was banned from WKF events for five years.

This phenomenon is not limited to Iran. In 2022, Kuwaiti karateka Mohammed Mashal Al-Otaibi also withdrew from the Premier League in Baku after being drawn against an Israeli opponent.

Such incidents directly conflict with the fundamental principles of Olympism. Rule 6 of the Olympic Charter states that any form of discrimination based on race, religion, politics, gender, or other grounds is incompatible with participation in the Olympic Movement, and that athletes, coaches, and officials must compete on merit, not political or national considerations. Rule 50 further prohibits using the Olympic Games to promote political statements or propaganda.

Refusing to compete against an opponent from a specific country is therefore considered a political act and constitutes prohibited discrimination. These cases highlight the ongoing tension between political pressures and the ideals of fair play in sport, raising questions about the effectiveness of international federations in enforcing anti-discrimination rules.

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That moment will arrive in June with the Ulaanbaatar Grand Slam, the first event to award Olympic qualification points. From that point on, every bout on the international circuit will carry added strategic value, placing the World Judo Tour at the centre of a season in which results will begin to shape individual pathways towards Los Angeles.

The World Judo Tour enters its Olympic phase

Before reaching that turning point, the calendar features an intense sequence of top-level competitions. The season opens with the traditional Grand Slam in Paris, followed by events in Tashkent, Linz, Tbilisi, Dushanbe and Astana. This phase of the season is designed to refine form and build consistency ahead of the start of the Olympic qualification process.

After Mongolia, the level of demand increases further. The Qingdao Grand Prix and the event in Lima in August will be followed by one of the symbolic highlights of the year: the debut of Lausanne on the World Judo Tour. The stop in the Olympic capital reinforces the institutional link between judo and the Olympic Movement.

World championships and dakar 2026 on the global stage

The calendar reaches its competitive peak in October, when Baku hosts the World Judo Championships 2026, featuring both individual and mixed team competitions. As the home of one of the most influential national federations in international judo, the Azerbaijani capital will concentrate world titles and crucial Olympic ranking points. Before the season draws to a close, the World Judo Tour will maintain its global character with further stops in Abu Dhabi, Zagreb and Tokyo, consolidating a calendar that blends tradition, territorial expansion and competitive continuity through to the end of the year.

Beyond the senior circuit, 2026 reinforces judo’s commitment to global development. The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will place Africa at the centre of the international calendar in the first Olympic event ever staged on the continent, with judo positioned as one of the programme’s key disciplines.

That African focus will be further strengthened by the Continental Team Championships for Peace in Kinshasa, an initiative promoted by the IJF that highlights judo’s role as a tool for inclusion, cooperation and sports diplomacy beyond competitive outcomes.

A calendar that spans every generation of judo

The season also leaves room for age-group competitions and for judo practised across the full sporting lifespan. The Cadet World Championships will be held in Guayaquil, while junior judoka will contest world titles in Amman, reinforcing the pathway that connects grassroots development with the international elite.

Alongside these events, the World Veteran and Kata Championships will once again feature prominently, with Sarajevo among the key host cities, and the Kata World Series opening in Gijón. Together, these competitions underline 2026 as a structural year for judo, in which almost every month contributes meaning, competitive value and projection along the Olympic pathway and within the sport’s global development.

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Singapore’s Jedd Tan, only 18 years old, captured gold in the men’s fighting under-77kg division, demonstrating remarkable composure in his first SEA Games final. Aacus Ee added to the medal haul with silver in the men’s under-85kg division, while Kayleigh Lim secured bronze in the women’s under-48kg category.

These results highlight a new generation of Singaporean athletes challenging traditional powerhouses in Southeast Asian ju-jitsu. The strong performances of young talents like Tan, Ee, and Lim signal the country’s growing depth in the sport and its commitment to nurturing emerging champions.

The Philippine team also made a strong statement. Dean Michael Roxas and Kimberly Anne Custodio claimed gold in their respective divisions, emphasizing the country’s rising reputation in ju-jitsu. Their performances, marked by technical precision and tactical intelligence, reflect the Philippines’ investment in developing high-caliber talent capable of competing at the regional level.

Not all expectations were met. Veteran Singaporean competitor Noah Lim, a three-time SEA Games champion, faced an early exit, underscoring the unpredictable and fiercely contested nature of this year’s event. Such outcomes demonstrate that emerging talents can now challenge even the most decorated athletes.

Ju-jitsu at this edition of the Games featured ten official categories, drawing significant attention from spectators and contributing to Thailand’s medal tally. The competition also highlighted the sport’s strategic importance for national teams in Southeast Asia, as countries aim to strengthen their programs ahead of future regional and continental tournaments.

Performances in Bangkok suggest that rivalries in ju-jitsu are intensifying, with young athletes like Tan and Custodio emerging as serious contenders. These results could shape the next SEA Games and upcoming championships, signaling an increasingly competitive future for the sport in the region.

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The debut will feature Masters categories for athletes aged 30+, 40+ and 50+, alongside Para and Special divisions, delivering a clear message: Muaythai is a sport open to all ages and abilities. The focus is placed on belonging, learning and competitive spirit, beyond any barriers linked to age or previous sporting background.

A global stage for a borderless Muaythai

The Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 will bring together more than 25,000 participants from around the world across a programme of 32 sports, positioning Muaythai within one of the largest and most diverse multisport celebrations ever staged in the region. This international scale offers a unique platform for a discipline that continues to expand its reach beyond traditional competitive formats.

The event is delivered under the umbrella of the International Masters Games Association -IMGA-, an organisation recognised by the International Olympic Committee -IOC-. This framework strengthens Muaythai’s integration within a multisport ecosystem aligned with Olympic values and with the “sport for all” philosophy that has defined the Masters Games since their inception.

Where competition meets tradition

The Muaythai programme in Abu Dhabi will combine high-level competition with cultural expressions intrinsic to the discipline. Alongside the bouts, traditional practices such as the Wai Kru will be included, underlining the importance of preserving Muaythai’s identity and cultural heritage within a contemporary sporting context.

This integration highlights values such as respect, discipline, dignity and unity, which are central to Muaythai’s DNA and take on particular significance within a format that celebrates sport at every stage of life. The coexistence of competition and culture reinforces the distinctive character of this debut at the Masters Games.

An impulse aligned with Muaythai’s global vision

The debut in Abu Dhabi forms part of the development strategy promoted by the International Federation of Muaythai Associations -IFMA-, the only international federation recognised by the Olympic Movement for the discipline. Its vision promotes an accessible, inclusive and sustainable Muaythai, conceived as a sporting and cultural journey that can be pursued throughout life.

The inclusion of Muaythai in the Open Masters Games programme strengthens this pathway and consolidates its presence in large-scale multisport events, alongside recent host locations such as Taipei, Cleveland and Lombardia. Abu Dhabi now joins this international network, projecting Muaythai as a global, inclusive sport fully integrated into the contemporary sporting landscape.

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The statement, signed by Global Athlete Director General Rob Koehler and sent directly to Espinos, raises serious concerns over governance, transparency and the treatment of registered athletes in the United Kingdom.

In the letter, Global Athlete states:

“Athletes commit substantial time and financial resources to prepare for competitions for which they are already registered. It is unacceptable that this investment is being undermined by an ultimatum forcing them to either change clubs or exit the sport. Registered athletes in good standing should never be placed in such a position. The lack of transparency in England’s governance rules jeopardizes the rights and futures of all UK Karate athletes.”

The letter further warns that what Global Athlete describes as a “manufactured internal dispute” has led to the establishment of a new UK federation, resulting in athletes being arbitrarily excluded despite remaining in good standing.

“What is happening in the UK is a direct violation of athletes’ fundamental right to compete and a stark example of the deeply regressive governance practices plaguing sport today.”

“No athlete should ever be coerced into switching clubs or aligning with a particular body to satisfy the interests of sport administrators,” the letter continues.

English Karate Federation Youth Camp

The current crisis within British karate dates back to late 2024, when British Karate Federation president Roger Williams declined to present financial accounts to the executive board and to the Home Nations, which include the karate federations of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Despite objections from the other Home Nations, the dispute ultimately led to the sidelining of the largest karate federation currently operating in England and the wider UK.

The English Karate Federation, representing close to 25,000 members, was removed despite its president, Steve Coupland, serving a second term following a democratic internal election. Recognition was instead granted to the newly formed ENKGB, which at the time had existed for less than three months and had no affiliated clubs or associations. This situation has forced some English clubs, associations, and referees who participate in WKF competitions to join ENKGB. However, their number remains limited.

Why isn’t the BKF being transparent?

Sportsin has learned through correspondence with UK Sport that funding totalling £771,439 was allocated to a small number of British karate athletes considered potential Olympic qualification contenders ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games. Of that amount, £109,750 was paid directly to the British Karate Federation, while the remainder was channelled through British Taekwondo to support the preparation of karate athletes.

The funding arrangement effectively placed responsibility for Olympic-level preparation outside karate’s own governing body. Despite karate’s presence in Britain dating back to the 1970s, the structure highlighted the continued inability of the British Karate Federation to independently develop and prepare athletes to Olympic standards.

In addition, Sportsin has been informed that in recent years the British Karate Federation has received donations from both corporate entities and private individuals. The federation, however, has declined to provide full disclosure regarding these contributions. Due to the lack of transparency from all parties involved in the dispute, Sportsin is unable to verify or refute these claims.

What is confirmed is that some BKF members declined to attend the federation’s annual general meeting, held in November. Discontent was also expressed over Roger Williams’ insistence on remaining as BKF president despite a vote of no confidence having been passed.

Click here to read Global Athlete open letter to the WKF

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Beyond sporting results, Muaythai’s presence at the SEA Games reflects an institutional approach that recognises the sport as a shared cultural heritage. The competition highlighted the role of sport as a vehicle for values, tradition and respect, with particular emphasis on the Wai Kru, an ancestral ritual that is inseparable from Muaythai and that was given dedicated prominence within the event.

Wai Kru as a cultural heritage of Muaythai

The Wai Kru is far more than a pre-fight ritual. Each movement symbolises respect for teachers, ancestors and the history of a martial art with more than a thousand years of tradition. Its inclusion as a dedicated competition within the SEA Games reinforces the event’s commitment to cultural preservation and to a vision of sport that extends beyond immediate results.

At the Lumpinee Stadium, athletes from Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, Laos and Myanmar delivered performances that combined technical precision with strong expressions of national identity. These routines were assessed not only on execution, but also on cultural depth, consolidating the Wai Kru as a unifying element across Southeast Asia.

Results and regional prominence in Bangkok

In the senior Wai Kru finals, Jia Chi Yan (Malaysia) claimed gold in the women’s competition, joined on the podium by Thanawan Thongduang (Thailand), Islay Erika Bomogao (Philippines) and Junetha Melva Christia (Indonesia). In the men’s event, gold went to Pithaya Thippranee (Thailand), followed by Aldento Brillian Bara Pratama (Indonesia), Phillip Delarmino (Philippines) and Asyraf Danial Abdul Latif (Malaysia).

The combat events confirmed the high competitive standard of regional Muaythai. Thailand once again emerged as a historical reference point, while teams from Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Myanmar and Laos reached finals and semi-finals across multiple categories, underlining a more evenly distributed competitive landscape within the region.

Muaythai and the SEA Games as a platform for development

Staging Muaythai at an iconic venue such as the Lumpinee Stadium and within the official programme of the SEA Games strengthens its position as a regional sport with growing international projection. For Southeast Asian sporting institutions, the event serves as a showcase that brings together performance, tradition and cultural diplomacy.

The development of Muaythai at the 33rd SEA Games reflects the role of the event as a reference platform for the discipline within the regional multi-sport calendar, combining competition, cultural expression and cooperation among participating nations.

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Sources close to the Azerbaijan Wrestling Federation confirmed that negotiations with the former Iran coach were concluded in recent weeks and that a final agreement has been reached. While the federation has yet to release full contractual details, Bana is expected to assume his role shortly as Azerbaijan begins preparations for upcoming international competitions, including the next World Championship cycle and the Olympic qualification pathway.

Azerbaijan has remained a consistent presence among Europe’s leading Greco-Roman nations, regularly producing world and continental medalists. However, the decision to recruit Bana signals a clear intention to strengthen the program at the highest level, particularly in translating technical potential into sustained Olympic success. His appointment is widely seen as a strategic move aimed at introducing a proven winning methodology and elite-level experience into the national setup.

Bana’s coaching career is closely tied to the modern history of Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling. Over several periods in charge of Iran’s national team, he played a central role in transforming the discipline from a developing program into a global powerhouse. His most notable achievement came at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where Iran claimed three gold medals in Greco-Roman wrestling, a landmark result that remains unmatched in the country’s Olympic history.

Under his leadership, Iran consistently ranked among the world’s top teams at World Championships and continental events. At the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, his athletes added two bronze medals, maintaining Iran’s position among the sport’s elite despite a highly competitive international field. Beyond medals, Bana is credited with developing a generation of technically refined and mentally resilient wrestlers who defined an era for Iranian Greco-Roman wrestling.

Known for his uncompromising standards, Bana built his success on discipline, tactical precision and psychological preparation. His methods, while demanding, have long been associated with peak performances on the sport’s biggest stages. At the same time, his career has included periods of tension with sporting authorities and repeated departures from the Iranian national team, reflecting the pressures and complexities of elite-level coaching.

News of his move to Azerbaijan has generated varied reactions in Iran, from regret at the departure of a highly successful coach to broader discussion about the structural challenges that have shaped Iranian wrestling in recent years. In Azerbaijan, expectations are high that Bana’s experience and competitive mindset can provide a decisive edge as the country seeks to strengthen its standing in global Greco-Roman wrestling.

Now facing a new professional chapter outside Iran, Bana enters a different sporting and cultural environment, where success will be measured not only by medals but by the long-term impact of his work. If his past record is any indication, his presence on the Azerbaijani bench is likely to be felt well beyond the borders of the Caucasus, with implications for the international Greco-Roman wrestling landscape in the years ahead.

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