NAIROBI, July 31 (Xinhua) -- The newly-appointed representative of the World Muay Thai Boxing Council said on Wednesday he will strive to put Kenya on the international stage in the martial arts sport.
Maurice Odera, who was recently named by World Muay Thai Boxing Council vice-president, Kovid Bhakdibhumi, has been given the brief to co-ordinate the sports activities in the East African nation from July 25 and push to improve the Kenyan chance for medals in the future.
"I intend to work closely with the Kenya Muay Thai Federation to grow the sport in the country by holding bi-monthly tournaments and creating a ranking system of all fighters in the country among other initiatives," Odera told Xinhua.
The sport, with origins in Thailand, is a combat sport that uses a combination of fists, elbows, knees, and shins against an opponent.
He said he will also develop training modules and infrastructure for both fighters and officials in order to give young people a chance to earn a living from the sport.
Odera, who is also an instructor at a high-end gym in Nairobi, is also the trainer of three Muay Thai exponents who traveled to Phuket, Thailand in April to take part in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics qualifier in the bid to represent the country at the quadrennial games.
