Taib (centre) presents the TYT challenge trophy to Shafilaludin as other guests look on.
A sidekick from Shafilaludin blocked by Hudson in the final bout.
BINTULU: Shafilaludin Nordin from SS Fighter Club Kuching beat Hudson Kayan of Kenyalang Muaythai Club Kuching in a dramatic final bout to win the TYT Muaythai Challenge Cup on Wednesday night.
Among the hundreds of spectators at the old airport site here were the Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his wife Toh Puan Sri Raghad Kurdi Taib.
The close fight which went to the full five rounds had the crowd on their feet with the fighters standing toe to toe.
In the end Shafilaludin did just enough to edge Hudson in the judges’ scorecards.
Before the main local bout there were several match-ups of local, Thai and Singaporean fighters.
Trevor Sallang ‘The machete’ from Warrior Muaythai Sarawak beat Santchai from Satun Thailand.
In another fight, Mohd Zahid Haizan whose goes by the fight name of Super Kijang from Kenyalang Muaythai Club Sarawak knocked his opponent Mustafa Mungkon from Mungkorn Fight Team Singapore.
The Head of State later presented the trophies and prize money to the winners.
In his speech Taib said he was happy to see Bintulu becoming an important venue for top Muaythai tournaments..
“Sports activities can promote a healthy lifestyle among the local people and I thank Sarawak Muaythai Association for their effort to bring the sport to Bintulu this year,” he said.
He also hoped that big sporting events like muaythai tournaments would bring the people closer together especially the younger generation.
Taib said with the population here increasing there is a need for more recreational and cultural activities for the people.
“In the near future, Bintulu will become a gateway for foreigners to work and for visiting and looking at the current growth of Bintulu,” he said.
Among those present were State Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities (Electricity and Telecommunication) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi, Bintulu Development Authority general manager Datu Mohidin Ishak, Bintulu Resident Muhamad Yakup Kari and Sarawak Muaythai Association president Jumaat Ibrahim.