A GROUP of Hills and Midland Muay Thai fighters are testing their skills in Thailand in March for the World Muay Thai Federation Championships.
Kalamunda Kickboxing athletes Marcus Allen, Asher Crosby, Jacob McKechnie, Lincoln Byers, Luca Barry and Destiny Blandford are among competitors heading to Bangkok as part of a large South Pacific team.
Joining them will be Midland fighters Ashraf Farawah and Shell Read from Mad Dog Martial Arts.
World Muay Thai Federation South Pacific president Murray McKechnie said the tournament would run from March 10 to 20 and bring together competitors from dozens of countries.
“We have approximately 170 people from Australia heading over, and another 30 from New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga joining the South Pacific group,” he said.
“It’s approximately going to be 40 to 50 countries from around the world converging on Bangkok.”
The championships will be held at Nimibutr Stadium, an indoor arena in the Thai capital capable of holding thousands of spectators.
Mr McKechnie said the team had been preparing intensely for the opportunity.
“Everyone’s been training really hard, putting in long days and long hours to get themselves ready to compete,” he said.
The 2026 trip will mark the third year the South Pacific team has attended the championships, with participation growing rapidly.
“Our first year we had 50 athletes, coaches and spectators,” he said.
“Last year we had 83, and this year we’ve got about 220 people coming across.”
The Midland fighters said the opportunity to fight at the birthplace of the sport was an honour.
“To experience Muay Thai competition in Thailand is definitely something I’ve always wanted to do since I started fighting,” Farawah said.
Read said the prospect seemed surreal and she cherished the people supporting her on the journey.
“My two daughters and my dad have been at every single fight, even making the trip to Thailand to continue backing me,” she said.
“Competing in the birthplace of the sport feels like stepping into the source.
“There’s so much history there and it means a lot to experience that side of the culture now as a fighter.”
According to Mr McKechnie, Western Australia and Queensland have long been among Australia’s strongest regions for Muay Thai, with the sport continuing to grow in popularity nationally.
While the Thai fighters remain the benchmark in their national sport, Mr McKechnie said Australian competitors were proving increasingly competitive.
“As far as Australia goes, we’re very competitive and we’re in the top third of the stronger countries,” he said.
You learn different techniques and different ways to score points every year.”
Beyond medals, Mr McKechnie said the event provided a powerful cultural exchange for young athletes.
Many junior competitors returned home with international friendships after meeting fighters from countries such as Mexico, Spain and England.
“One of the things I didn’t expect was the friendships that formed,” he said.
“A lot of these kids are still chatting to each other around the world.”
He recalled a moment from last year’s championships when Australian supporters cheered on a smaller Indian team whose athlete had won gold.
“We had probably 80 to 100 Australians there cheering for India,” he said.
“They turned and bowed to us afterwards because they were so grateful for the support.”
Mr McKechnie said Muay Thai taught important values for young competitors.
“Respect, integrity and honour are the main ones,” he said.
“These kids are training four or five times a week, and they know they’re representing their club and their country.”
The Midland fighters echoed the sentiment and said they hoped their journey would inspire young people in the area.
“Work hard in everything you do, even if it’s not training related, and stay focused,” Farawah said.
Read said to strive to be a good person doing what you want to do.
“Build a strong mind and back yourself,” she said.
“Most of the important decisions in my life have started with, ‘This terrifies me… so I’m probably meant to do it.’”
