Muay Thai Senegal targets schools and universities

Senegalese muay thai has taken its first organised step into schools and universities, creating a pathway for young athletes to enter the sport and eventually compete internationally. The initiative also places students, women and younger participants at the centre of the discipline’s development strategy.

The inaugural national school and university championship was held on Sunday alongside the Cup of the Ambassador of Thailand to Senegal. Around 40 fighters were selected for the contests after organisers received more entries than expected. The original plan was to accommodate 50 competitors across 25 bouts, including four for the ambassador’s cup and 21 for the national championship.

The event came only a few months after Senegal staged its first national muay thai championship. The Senegalese Muay Thai Association, established in 2021, said the competitions have been approved by the international muay thai federation, which supports its efforts to organise and expand the sport. Delegations travelled from Saint-Louis, Louga, Fatick, Thiès, Dakar and areas of the Dakar suburbs.

The school and university tournament is also intended to prepare Senegalese athletes for international championships organised for students from affiliated countries. The association sees this first edition as an opening stage towards taking both pupils and university athletes to those events in the future.