Former European Amateur Muay Thai Champion To Coach National Muay Thai Exponents Ahead Of SEA Games

KUALA LUMPUR, March 23 (Bernama) -- The arrival of coach Yury Zhukovsky from Belarus is expected to boost Malaysia's chances of winning medals in Muay Thai events at the 2017 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games scheduled from Aug 19-31. National Muay Thai head coach Bernard Radin said Yury, 33, a boxer from Belarus would start coaching when the third phase of the training programme under the Kita Juara Programme starts in April. Bernard said the arrival of Yury, the former European International Union Amateur Muay Thai Trophy (IFMA) winner in 2011, will be a bonus to the National Muay Thai exponents because he has vast experience in the field. "Belarus is a country that is well known for producing excellent fighters who can match perennial powers Thailand at international competitions. Thailand Muay Thai exponents always faced tough opposition from Belarus fighters because they are highly experienced with good technical skills," he told reporters at the Kita Juara 2017 Programme at the National Sports Council, here Wednesday. Meanwhile, National Muay Thai exponent Muhammad Ali Yaakub who competes in the 54kg category said training under Yury would probably give him the best chance to win a gold medal. In the 2013 SEA Games hosted by Myanmar, Malaysian exponents who were making their debut, managed to win two gold and three bronze medals. -- BERNAMA