File photo showing Shafilaludin (left) up against fellow Sarawakian, Trevor Salang in Kuching last year. The TYT Cup holder will defend his title in Bintulu this year.
KUCHING: The second edition of Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak (TYT) Cup muaythai championship will see last year’s winner Shafilaludin Nordin going all-out to defend his title.
The March 18 showdown at Old Bintulu Airport, will have Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as the guest-of-honour.
The event, running from March 18-21, is a smart collaboration between Bintulu Development Authority (BDA), Bintulu Resident’s Office and Sarawak Muay Thai Association, with support from relevant government departments and agencies such as the state Youth and Sports Department.
This edition will feature exponents from the state, as well as contenders from Singapore and Thailand.
It will also host two other championships, namely the Bintulu Cup and Borneo Cup.
Contenders for this year’s Bintulu Cup will face titleholder Kabilan Javilan.
The Borneo Cup fight, on the other hand, will gather exponents from Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan and Kalimantan.
So far, the organisers have received confirmed participation of 50 exponents from Sarawak, 34 from Sabah and 10 from Labuan.
“Apart from these highly-anticipated muaythai bouts, there will also be other sideline events throughout the four days such as a trading expo, martial arts demonstration, a car show, mass aerobics, sepak takraw competition, animal exhibition and colouring competitions for children,” a joint statement from the organisers said.