The Panhellenic Muaythai Federation -PMF- held the 2026 National Muaythai Championship on 25 and 26 April at the Olympic facilities in Paiania, Athens. The competition brought together 800 Greek athletes from different regions of the country, following a national qualification system that involved more than 5,000 competitors.

The PMF, an official member of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations -IFMA- and recognised by the Ministry of Sport of Greece and the National Olympic Committee, staged this edition in a year of particular relevance for Greek muaythai. The country has also been awarded the IFMA Youth World Championships, which will bring delegations from more than 100 countries to ancient Olympia.

Greece defines its international muaythai pathway

The National Championship served as a reference process to define Greek representation at upcoming international events. Athletes competed under IFMA rules and across different age categories, with Combat, Wai Kru & Mae Muay, Para and Special divisions, within a programme focused on the competitive, technical and cultural development of the discipline.

The national champions now have the objective of representing Greece at the IFMA Youth World Championships, while other qualifiers will continue their international pathway towards the IFMA Senior World Championships in Malaysia and the All-Inclusive Championships in Kosovo. The federation positioned the championship as a gateway to the global IFMA calendar and to the development process of muaythai within the recognised sports ecosystem.

Olympic values and the tradition of muaythai

PMF president Ioannis Papadopoulos linked the championship to Greece’s historic role in international sport. “Greece is important to Olympic values because it is where they were born. At Olympia, the ancient Games introduced peace, excellence, respect, and unity, values that still guide sport today. Revived in Athens in 1896, they became the foundation of the modern Olympic Movement. Greece did not just start the Olympics, it gave sport its values,” he said.

IFMA president Dr. Sakchye Tapsuwan also underlined the institutional dimension of the event and the relationship between Olympic recognition and the cultural tradition of muaythai. “This is why we are proud to be recognised by the International Olympic Committee -IOC-. Greece is a strong and important member of IFMA, where the ancient Olympic values and the traditions of muaythai merge into one built on respect, culture, and excellence,” he said.

A national event with international projection

The chair of the IFMA Athletes’ Commission, Lennert Swart, highlighted the symbolic value of competing in Greece for athletes. “For athletes, competing in Greece is a true honour. At Olympia, they stand where it all began. They are not just competing, they are part of a legacy, living the true spirit of the Olympics,” he said.

The competition in Athens brought together clubs from across Greece during the weekend and served as a step towards an international cycle whose main reference points will include the IFMA Youth World Championships in ancient Olympia, the Senior World Championships in Malaysia and the All-Inclusive Championships in Kosovo.