The tragic death of a young boxer has triggered a widespread debate about the national sport and children's involvement in it.
Thirteen-year-old Anucha "Nong Lek" Thasako, who used the fighting name "Petmongkol Sor Wilaithong", died from severe head injuries after he was knocked out by a young boxer of the same age during a district-level match in Samut Prakan last Saturday. According to news reports, Anucha collapsed after being punched and hitting his head on the canvas during the third round.
His death came as a shock to the boxing community.
The tragedy drew a quick response from authorities, who demanded measures be put in place to ensure no more athletes die in the ring. One of the suggested measures is a minimum age limit for young boxers, proposed by the the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) in a draft amendment to the Boxing Act, which aims to bar children younger than 12 years old from participating in the sport. The age limit was discussed this week by the National Olympic Committee of Thailand.
The current law does not set a minimum age, but stipulates the need to register children under the age of 15 who practise the martial art.
There are pros and cons to the NLA proposal. Those who oppose the age limit are worried the new rule will affect the development of new boxers as well as their opportunity to earn a living.
Opponents also argue the ban on boxing for children under 12 is unrealistic. Most countries, including the US, have minimum training age limits of between five and eight, just like any other sport. They have a point.
The issue is contentious as it is related to Thai culture, with many taking pride in the national martial art in its very original form, which includes no use of protective headgear.
Some have attempted to project the Nov 10 death as an "accident", which means it is an isolated case. Veteran boxer Somrak Khamsingh initially dismissed the need for a review of the boxing law but urged strict adherence to the safety rules. In the case of Anucha's death, Mr Somrak believes some rules may have been violated.
According to news reports, Anucha started his fighting career at the age of eight and had sparred in more than 170 matches. The number shows he had three bouts a month on average.
The record apparently shows a breach of a safety rule which obliges a boxer to take a 21-day interval between each fight. Experts say that without enough rest, cumulative injuries become more serious.
At the same time, the youngster's relatives, while accepting the death as an accident and showing no intention of taking legal action against anyone, raised the question of why the referee in the fateful fight had not interrupted the match -- an act that may have prevented the loss of Anucha's life.
But Anucha is not the first young fighter to die during a fight.
Boxing the Thai way is indeed a risk, especially when it comes to head injuries, as no fighters use protective gear.
The risk is much higher for young children. Stringent precautions must be taken and made into rules.
As a sport, prohibiting young kids may not be practical, but it's time the authorities start regulating commercial fights.
In addition, the authorities should be aware of a comprehensive study on sports and youth -- a joint cooperation between Unesco and the International Federation of Muaythai Amateur (IFMA).
The study stipulates strict safety rules in the martial art; for instance, an absolute ban on punching to the head for participants 11 and younger, and limitations for those 12 and older.
It should also consider requiring the use of protective gear, especially for young fighters.
There must be a thorough probe into Anucha's death, so that those involved can learn and work out relevant safety measures.
Improvement of the safety rules for fighters -- young and adult alike -- is a must.