WBC President visits Thailand to celebrate Muay Thai Festival 

World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman has travelled to Hua Hin in Thailand to attend the Muay Thai Festival, the glittering culmination of which will be the unique Thailand Cup.

The Thailand Cup Adult and Youth Open Amateur Tournament is from February 2-6^th . The Under 16 and Under 18 category prospects have the enticing possibility of competing for medals and trophies in the Special Youth Tournament. The event is being hosted by the Royal Thai Army, Thailand`s Tourism Authority and WBC Muay Thai.  The World Boxing Council is also realizing the opportunity to hold a Ring Officials Course and a Trainers Seminar.

Training sessions leading up to the Grand Extravaganza are already well advanced, with Stars Saenchai, Kem, Sittichai, Thanachai and Satanfah offering their wealth of experience and guidance to the keen competitors.

WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman is adding prestige, commitment plus encouragement and reinforcement to this very important development for the sport of Muay Thai. Mauricio is proud to continue the legacy of his Father Don Jose and to fulfil a promise. On November 22^nd 2001, the late beloved King of Thailand Bhumibol Aduluyadej met in his Palace in the Capital Bangkok with WBC Lifetime President Jose Sulaiman and General Kovid Bhakdibhumi to request that they use their considerable and diverse expertise, inspiration and energies to develop the ancient sport of Muay Thai.

Don Jose pledged to do everything within his power to bring this about and achieve it. The first step was to establish WBC Muay Thai in order to rate fighters worldwide, sanction championship fights as well as proactively promote the Sport and its rich culture worldwide. Muay Thai is now flourishing in more than forty countries globally. The strategy is to increasingly include Muay Thai bouts in major World Boxing Council championship events, to spotlight and highlight its brilliance and its tremendous potential.

As President of WBC Muay Thai, General Kovid, assisted by Kevin Noone has achieved exceptional success in developing and bringing the sport to global prominence. This particular Tournament which is specifically created, designed and intended to nurture promising prospects, is the next key step on the ongoing journey. Mauricio is honouring the Sulaiman and WBC promise, which is offering and providing dividends to the continuing glorious rise of Muay Thai.

A heartfelt thank you to Kevin Noone for his invaluable help with this article concerning this initiative, which is practically and tangibly walking the talk. Kevin is a WBC Governor, a member of its Ratings Committee, Chairman of WBC China, Secretary General of the WBC Asia Council and Secretary General of WBC Muay Thai.