The gold and silver medals, as well as the Rising Star award, won by Moldovan athletes at the World Muay Thai Championships for juniors, are an important result for their career first as amateurs, then as professionals. Even though Moldova has a lot to learn from Thailand, it cannot be denied that Europeans can leave their mark on the sport. This year, the Moldovans were the first to beat the Thai at their own national sport, national team coach Andrei Grosu told a press conference at IPN.
He says the two week training camp in Thailand helped the young fighters exchange experience, fighting techniques and sports tips in general. He admits that Moldova has a lot to learn from Thailand, but even though Muay Thai is the latter’s national sport, Europeans should not underestimate their potential contribution to this sport.
Andrei Grosu thinks that motivation is very important if one aspires towards success in sports. In the case of Muay Thai, motivation can have different aspects and is usually more individual. “We work with each of them separately, to learn what motivates them to improve. For some athletes it’s money, for others its a spot in the history books. It’s most efficient to tell athletes that they can be remembered not only in the history of the sport, but in the history of the country”, explained Grosu.
David Chiperi won the Rising Star award, given to the tournament’s most spectacular fighter under 14 years of age. David says the award means a lot to him because he worked a lot and deserved it.
Ion Ungurean, who finished on the 5th place, thinks his result is only motivating him to do better, to work more and to fight for the gold medal.
Overall, Moldova won five medals at the Muay Thai Championships for juniors, held in Bangkok, Thailand, between August 3-11. Liviu Titica and Igor Duca won gold medals, while Gheorghe Plesca, Marius Covali and David Chiperi won silver medals. The latter also received the Rising Star award. Ion Ungurean managed only a fifth place, after winning two fights.
Artur Grosu, head of the National Muay Thai Federation, is happy with the results and said the young fighters would be rewarded by the Federation.
