Join Joel Chang as he unpacks EFC Muay Thai Festival 3, celebrating the strides that female fighters have made in Singaporean Muay Thai.

Muay Thai fighters gather to celebrate Singapore’s first ever world title, with the championship belts on display at EFC Muay Thai Festival 3. Photo Credit: Tristan Low

The piercing scent of massage oil, pulsating traditional Thai music, crowds cheering with every strike, and the thrill of combat. These are just some of the things one can expect when attending a Muay Thai event. Having been a traditionally male-dominated sport, Muay Thai is now seeing a surge in women taking centre stage, highlighted by the recent surge of elite female fighters born and bred in Singapore.

On the 24th of May, Eminent Fighting Championship (EFC) held its third annual Muay Thai event at the Royal Thai Embassy, spotlighting the growth and development of the sport in Singapore. The crown jewel in this year’s event, however, was the contest for the World Professional Muay Thai Federation World Title, the first ever world title held on home soil. 

This title was contested by Ms Tan Xuan Yun, who faced off against a strong Thai opponent. Ms Tan is also fourth in the World Boxing Council (WBC) Muay Thai rankings, in the Mini-Flyweight division (45.3kg-47.6kg).

In the same event, undefeated fighter Ms Ginny Teo competed for the WBC Muay Ying belt, which translates to “female fighter” in Thai. She faced off against another formidable opponent from Thailand on a 10-fight winning streak, Ms Teo’s toughest challenge to date.

Both athletes took to the ring with strength and bravery, eventually emerging victorious over their Thai counterparts and securing decision victories via the judges’ scorecards.

Ms Tan Xuan Yun performing the pre-fight ritual known as the “Wai Kru”, believed to bring good luck and protection in the ring. Photo Credit: Tristan Low

This marked a momentous occasion not just for women’s Muay Thai in Singapore, but for the sport as a whole. It solidified that local athletes can hold their own on the world stage, with both of our local athletes bringing home the gold.

 “Back then, there weren’t many females doing it. So you don’t get to see a lot of female fights. But now that there are more and more females, we get more opportunities to fight on the bigger stage.” Ms Teo, commenting on the evolution of participation from women in the sport over the years. 

Ms Tan also had similar sentiments. “You see a lot more female fighting nowadays. And I feel like there’s empowerment in that. It’s not just a male-dominant sport. All of us can excel in it if we really want it.” 

Mr Kelvin Kaung, 24, a fervent supporter of the sport, shares a similar point of view. “I think it’s great to see that [women’s Muay Thai has] been improving a lot … , there’s a lot of gyms that offer female-only training or, for example, female-only sparring sessions. I think that really allows women to not be intimidated and allows them to be more comfortable training.” 

Muay Thai has long had a foothold in Singapore, but the sport has surged in popularity over recent years. Most Muay Thai gyms have seen an increase in participation from women, while there have even been women-only gyms opening up around the country, such as Encore Muay Thai, Six Sigma Gym, and Van Lee Fitness.

This trend can even be seen in Thailand, the birthplace of Muay Thai. Women were traditionally prohibited from competing due to conservative and superstitious beliefs, with signs in stadiums forbidding women from touching the ring as it was viewed as a symbol of bad luck.

 In 2022, the oldest Muay Thai Stadium in the world, Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium, allowed women to compete under its bright lights for the first time in 77 years. Today, female fighters are at the forefront of the sport, headlining events and competing for major titles in Thailand’s most prestigious stadiums.

Two female fighters competing at Rajadamnern Muay Thai Stadium, the oldest Muay Thai Stadium in the world. Photo Credit: Rajadamnern Stadium

The ripple effects are felt back at home, too. Local fighters are now training with international ambitions, knowing that the sky’s the limit. The best part? They have shown that they can compete with the best in the world. 

For years, the gender dynamic regarding the sport has mirrored broader gender narratives, with male athletes dominating the scene and women taking a backseat. Events like these disrupt that idea. Seeing women at the top of the marquee, fighting against the best of the best not only offers exposure, but inspires the next generation.

 “It used to be seen as a violent sport, but now, Muay Thai changes people.” Said Mr Spencer Tay, the founder of EFC and WBC Chairman in Singapore. “For self-defence is one, secondly, you train yourself to be disciplined. So it’s a very gruelling sport. You have to wake up early, you have to commit. It teaches you more in life.”

As the final bell rang on the night, something larger echoed through the Royal Thai Embassy. Beyond the wins and losses, the event marked a turning point for just how far local female fighters can go. As they stand tall inside the ring, they are not just chasing belts, they are shifting the narrative. A sport once segregated is now giving both genders the spotlight, and the women in Singapore are rising to the challenge.

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