The inaugural Thailand Kickboxing Championship was a success, officials said.
The first edition of the tournament, held at the Thai-Japanese Stadium in Bangkok at the weekend, attracted more than 200 fighters who competed in three categories, said Kookiat Srinaka, a senior official at the Kickboxing Association of Thailand.
Gen Kookiat said he was satisfied with the number of the participants and their performances.
The winner in each category and some promising fighters will join the national team, he said.
"We will train these fighters so they are well prepared to represent the country in many international events such as the Asian Kickboxing Championship next month and the SEA Games in Cambodia next year," Kookiat said.
As for the Asian Kickboxing Championship to be held at the Thai-Japanese Stadium from Dec 10-18, he said that it would serve as the qualifying event for his association to find athletes to compete in the 2023 Riyadh World Combat Games in Saudi Arabia.
Also at the closing ceremony were Tira Buyanee Kittikorn, treasurer of the Kickboxing Association of Thailand, and Preecha Lalun from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT).
Kampanat wins gold
The highlight of the last day of the Thailand Kickboxing Championship was the final of the low kick division for 19-40-year-old fighters.
Kampanat Wansiripatanachai, who was a silver medalist at the SEA Games in Vietnam earlier this year, stopped Teng Ruengmanee in the first round.
Former Muay Thai star Kampanat, who has recently switched to kickboxing, said he was satisfied with his performance and that he would work harder for the Asian Kickboxing Championship and also the SEA Games in Cambodia next year.
Meanwhile, Narumol Maneechai from Suratthani Rajabhat University defeated Natnicha Thamma in the full contact event of the women's 48kg division.