The International Federation of Muaythai Associations -IFMA- demonstrated two complementary ways of expanding muaythai’s international presence during September. While Kosovo hosted the finals of the All Disciplines Senior World Championships, five-time world champion Buakaw Banchamek brought a programme of masterclasses, demonstrations and cultural activities to Spain. His appearances in Marbella and Tenerife took the discipline beyond conventional competition and connected it with the cuisine, fashion, handicrafts and tourism promotion of its country of origin.
The two initiatives perform different functions within the same process. The World Championships provide national teams, common regulations and titles recognised by an international federation, while Buakaw uses his profile to present the sport to practitioners, institutions and audiences that do not necessarily follow its competitive circuit. Recognised by the International Olympic Committee -IOC-, IFMA develops this second dimension alongside the World Muaythai Council -WMC-, national federations and public bodies in Thailand. The result combines elite competition, education and cultural diplomacy.
A World Championships shared by several powers
The All Disciplines Senior World Championships took place from 1 to 11 September in Deçan, with delegations from every continent and support from the Government, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Kosovo Olympic Committee. Kazakhstan topped the Senior Elite medal table with five medals, while Finland, Thailand, Israel and Croatia completed the top five. The standings allowed IFMA to demonstrate a competitive landscape that extends beyond muaythai’s country of origin and encompasses federations from Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
Several results expanded the historical map of the competition. Linas Andrijauskas defeated Hungary’s Csaba Toth in the men’s -81kg final to become the first athlete from Lithuania to win gold at an IFMA Senior World Championships. Antonia Drevenlid secured the women’s -60kg title for Sweden after narrowly defeating Poland’s Adriana Plachta, while Jantakarn Manoban won the -57kg division for Thailand. The host nation also produced a champion of its own, with Sayed Mosawi overcoming Poland’s Daniel Wasik in the men’s -60kg final in front of the home crowd.
Buakaw turns sport into culture
The Spanish tour began on 10 September at the Anantara Villa Padierna Palace Benahavís Marbella Resort, where Buakaw led a demonstration and masterclass. Spanish champion Carlos Coello served as master of ceremonies and helped connect the Thai athlete with Spain’s muaythai community. The programme also included traditional performances, cuisine, fashion and other cultural activities. Its organisation brought together the Royal Thai Embassy in Spain, the Department of International Trade Promotion -DITP-, IFMA and the Spanish Kickboxing and Muaythai Federation -FEKM-.
Two days later, Buakaw travelled to the Siam Park Amphitheatre in Adeje to participate in the Thai Soul Fest – Muay Thai Edition 2026. The seminar and demonstration again formed the centre of a programme accompanied by traditional dance, cuisine, fashion, handicrafts and Thai tourism promotion. The involvement of the Canary Islands Kickboxing and Muaythai Federation -FCKM-, together with FEKM and IFMA, added a local sporting structure to an activity also aimed at visitors and Tenerife’s international community. Both stops used muaythai as a gateway to a broader presentation of Thailand.
More than 20 years as an ambassador
Buakaw has been connected with IFMA and WMC for more than two decades, initially as one of their leading champions and subsequently as an international ambassador. His role is not an executive position within either federation, but a form of sporting and cultural representation carried out through seminars, exhibitions, charity events and meetings with younger generations. In 2024, he delivered a charity workshop during SportAccord and participated in activities organised in Paris during the Olympic Games. He performed at Club France and joined French champion Jimmy Vienot in delivering a free seminar at Baan Muaythai. His international appearances allow organisations to demonstrate the discipline’s techniques through a recognisable figure while also explaining its rituals, history and values.
The World Championships in Kosovo and the Spanish tour therefore represent two levels of muaythai’s international structure. In Deçan, national federations competed for titles and countries such as Lithuania and Kosovo added new champions to their histories. In Marbella and Tenerife, Buakaw worked with Thai organisations and Spanish federations to incorporate the sport into cultural and educational programmes. IFMA uses competition to consolidate standards and broaden the geographical distribution of results, while its ambassadors introduce the discipline to new audiences and maintain its connection with Thailand’s cultural heritage.
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