Chatri Sityodtong's contribution to the martial art sport was recognised at the Amazing Muay Thai Festival in Hua Hin on Tuesday.
ONE Championship chairman and founder was invited to the annual celebration by the Royal Thai Army, who honoured him as one of the top 20 most influential teachers of Muay Thai.
Chatri took to his Facebook page to express his gratitude for the award, and to thank those who have contributed to his journey.
"I celebrated National Muay Thai Day yesterday in Hua Hin, Thailand, at the Amazing Muay Thai Festival alongside Thailand Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Defence Minister Sutin Klungsang, Supreme Commander in Chief Charoenchai Hinthao, General Suchart Daengprapai and several thousand brothers and sisters of our treasured Muay Thai community," Chatri wrote.
"Much to my surprise, Prime Minister Srettha presented me with a special award for my contributions to Muay Thai. I was also honoured by the Thai Government as one of the top 20 most influential teachers of Muay Thai. The truth is that I stand on the shoulders of giants. I owe my success to my late teacher, Kru Yodtong Senanan, and to my childhood teammates from Sityodtong Gym."
Chatri is a lifelong Muay Thai practitioner in his own right, with around 30 professional fights to his credit, having trained at the famed Sityodtong Muay Thai Gym in Pattaya.
The Thai overcame financial hardship in his country before travelling to the United States to study at the prestigious Harvard University. He then went on to carve out a highly successful career in the business world.
His reflected on the role that Muay Thai had played in his success.
"Without a doubt, I owe my life today to Muay Thai. For almost 40 years, I have been a student, a fighter, a teacher, a gym owner, a coach, and now a CEO.
"While I never reached the highest levels in the world as a competitor, I am full of gratitude for the lessons that Muay Thai taught me. Through thousands of hours of training and honing my craft, I acquired strength, humility, courage, discipline, determination, perseverance, and so much more. Above all though, Muay Thai gave me an unbreakable warrior spirit to fight for my dreams and for my country," he wrote.
Chatri founded ONE Championship in 2011, and the promotion grew into a global powerhouse with its shows beamed into the households of more than 190 countries worldwide.
While it began as a mixed martial arts promotion, ONE added Muay Thai to its events in 2018 with an innovative rule set that includes three-round bouts instead of five and four-ounce gloves instead of the traditional eight-ounce version.
The new platform has brought about a surge in Muay Thai's popularity all over the world, with ONE superstars such as Rodtang Jitmuangnon, Stamp Fairtex, and Superlek Kiatmoo9 among the most recognisable faces in combat sports.