On 28 September 2026, H.E. Ms. Nipa NIRANNOOT, Ambassador-Designate of Thailand to Senegal, welcomed and held discussions with Mr. Stephan FOX, Secretary General of the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA), and Ms. Julia GOVINDEN, Chief Executive Officer of United Through Sports (UTS), with the participation of Mr. Diamil FAYE, Special Adviser on Sports to the President of the Republic of Senegal.

On this occasion, the Ambassador welcomed the IFMA Secretary General on his visit to Senegal and expressed her appreciation for IFMA’s support to the Royal Thai Embassy in organising a Muay Thai training session for young people as part of the first Muay Thai Ambassador’s Cup and Muay Thai Championship for School and University Students, held at the Olympic Club in Dakar on 27 September 2026.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to exchange views on ways to strengthen the capacity of the Muay Thai Association in Senegal and further promote Muay Thai in Senegal and West Africa as a sport and martial art, as well as an important element of Thailand’s cultural heritage and a means of fostering people-to-people ties. IFMA expressed its readiness to support training and capacity-building programmes, coaching, and the organisation of Muay Thai competitions at various levels, as well as efforts to include Muay Thai in international sporting events, including the African Games. Mr. Diamil FAYE and Mr. Stephan FOX agreed to continue and further develop activities to promote Muay Thai among young people during the Dakar 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games and in the future.