Award Banner
Award Banner

Death of 13-year-old Thai boy inflames debate on Muay Thai's young dreamers

Death of 13-year-old Thai boy inflames debate on Muay Thai's young dreamers

BANGKOK - The death of a 13-year-old boy, knocked out during a Thai boxing match, has inflamed debate about whether children should be allowed to take part in a dangerous sport that many of them see as their only chance of escaping poverty.

Anucha Kochana was pronounced dead from a brain haemorrhage on Monday (Nov 12) after he was knocked out in a match on the outskirts of Bangkok on Sunday evening.

Muay Thai is celebrated as Thailand's national sport with millions of boys dreaming of glory in the ring and a life of riches for them and their families, that success can bring.

But the sport is governed by few rules - children of any age can box in an organised match - leaving them at risk of severe injury, or worse, as Anucha's case has sadly shown.

The boy's grieving relatives told media they would not press charges over his death.

But legislators appointed by a military government have already been looking to tighten regulations to ban children under the age of 12 from professional bouts.

But the effort is opposed by many in the boxing community.

"Those aged 12 to 15 will need to be registered, have the permission of their parents and wear protective gear for professional fights," General Adulyadej Inthapong, the vice-chairman of the National Legislative Assembly's committee on sports, told Reuters, referring to the proposed law.

Footage of Anucha's last fight posted on social media shows the boy, without any protective gear, getting punched repeatedly in the head before falling down and banging his head on the mat.

Somchart Charoenwatcharawit, president of the Professional Boxing Association of Thailand, said the proposed changes would hurt the livelihood of an estimated 300,000 child boxers under the age of 15.

"The new rule... will hurt the children and their parents who earn tens of thousands of baht from boxing in what is a national sport," Somchart said.

He said the referee on Sunday should have stopped the fight when Anucha looked groggy and the match did not meet his association's standards.

The association thinks the minimum age for boys taking part in organised bouts should be 10, he said.

Jiraporn Laothamatas, a neuroradiologist and director of the Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Centre, has studied the damage that boxing can inflict.

Her research has fuelled the push for change but she says even the proposed minimum age of 12 for competition is a compromise that she disagrees with.

"If I had my way, the minimum age would be 18," she said, while acknowledging that Muay Thai is an important source of income for many, as well as being culturally important.

"The change in the law is being delayed because the industry makes a lot of money from child boxing," she said.

"It will take some guts for the government to push it through."

homepage

trending

trending
    Hong Kong actor Lee Lung Kei still plans to marry fiancee 37 years younger after her release from prison
    2 Taiwanese men allegedly part of a crime syndicate charged with cheating
    AI and art: Studio Ghibli-inspired trend sparks debate on ethics and consent
    Edwin Goh proposes to Rachel Wan, both returning to Singapore after 2 years in Australia
    'My brain got so fried up': Gurmit Singh hit by anxiety attack while acting in his 1st Chinese drama
    How do Trump's tariffs affect you? Here is an explainer
    2 GRCs and 1 SMC: This Woodlands junction separates 3 electoral divisions
    The iconic Milo Van beverage is now available in supermarkets
    21 men in Singapore among 435 arrested in cross-border operation targeting online child sex abuse
    Disney's Beauty and the Beast musical to make Asia premiere in Singapore this December
    What happens next after South Korea's removal of President Yoon?
    Singapore and Malaysia police's video collaboration for Hari Raya goes viral

Singapore

Singapore
    • Singapore deploys 34-member emergency medical team to aid Myanmar quake relief efforts
    • PPP's Goh Meng Seng says MPs work 'extra hard' only before elections for votes, Baey Yam Keng hits back
    • 'She should be with her family': Employer gives maid plane ticket, $800 to return to Myanmar and search for missing mum
    • 'Don't cheat, don't be greedy': Elderly couple in their 90s share secret to longevity with DPM Heng in viral clip
    • Clean-up underway for oil leak from Johor; public advised to avoid water activities at Changi and Pasir Ris beaches
    • Online voting not feasible due to 'voter impersonation' risks: ELD
    • Singapore disappointed with tariffs, will engage US to clarify calculations: DPM Gan
    • 'He needed something to help him fight,' says man who bought Hokkien mee for dying patient
    • MaNaDr admits to lapses, introduces 1-minute minimum teleconsultation rule
    • New bus interchanges in Woodleigh and Pasir Ris to open in late April

Entertainment

Entertainment
    • 'I was right there just 3cm behind her': Exo's Kai recalls joys of simple life during military service, meeting commuter checking him out online
    • E-Junkies: The Click Five will consider making new music if upcoming tour goes well
    • Former NCT idol Lucas to make acting debut in Taiwan
    • 'Blessed beyond measure': Desmond Tan and wife expecting second child
    • Jean-Claude Van Damme accused of having sex with trafficked women
    • Jim Carrey pays tribute to Val Kilmer's 'grace and courage'
    • Val Kilmer reportedly discussed reprising his role as Batman before his death
    • Sum 41 releases final music video before splitting up
    • Probe finds former Smap idol Masahiro Nakai committed sexual assault, victim says 'What I've lost will never be recovered'
    • Gossip mill: Chantalle Ng dating longtime friend, ex-TVB actress now sells chicken feet, Leslie Cheung's partner pays tribute on his 22nd death anniversary

Lifestyle

Lifestyle
    • A first look: Blue Bottle Coffee's cafe at Raffles City, here's what to expect
    • Life-sized dinosaurs, pre-historic plants: Gardens by the Bay to transform into Jurassic World this May
    • 'The menu is a reflection of us': Singaporean woman and American husband open restaurant selling soul food
    • Life after death: Guide to be launched to help parent caregivers plan for autistic children's future
    • Hyundai Santa Fe review: Rugged-looking premium SUV levels up the luxury for Hyundai
    • What to do this weekend (April 4 to 6)
    • Long-range cruiser: GAC E9 luxury MPV with over 1,000km of range now in Singapore
    • Deepal officially arrives in Singapore with opening of new showroom
    • We ask parents how they keep their children's screen time low - here's the lowdown
    • The best new-launch condo layouts we've seen so far in 2025

Digicult

Digicult
    • A $500 wake-up call: How the Samsung Galaxy Ring made me realise my stress
    • Monster Hunter Wilds producer explains how game has remained unique and fresh over 20 years
    • Nintendo Switch 2 to launch in June with US$449.99 price tag
    • Games in April: RPGs, racing and Ronaldo in a fighting game
    • Is it time to get a MacBook at a good price? The M4 MacBook Air says yes
    • China's Baidu launches 2 new AI models as industry competition heats up
    • China's top universities expand enrolment to beef up capabilities in AI, strategic areas
    • International Women's Day: Meet the Singapore women levelling up in gaming
    • US indicts slew of alleged Chinese hackers, sanctions company over spy campaign
    • Meet the women powering innovation in tech in Singapore and beyond

Money

Money
    • Giant deal: Malaysian company to acquire Cold Storage and Giant supermarket chains in Singapore
    • Trump's tariffs provoke trade war threats, fears of pricier iPhones
    • Australia says US tariffs 'not act of a friend' but rules out reciprocal move
    • South Korea's acting president calls for talks with US over tariffs
    • Southeast Asian nations, hit particularly hard by US tariffs, prep for talks with Trump
    • China urges US to immediately lift tariffs, vows retaliation
    • Trump's tariffs stoke global trade war as China and EU vow response
    • HDB to launch 3,000 balance flats in July 2025: What homebuyers need to know
    • With 61 years left on its lease, this Bishan maisonette matches national record at $1.5m
    • Why are homebuyers choosing pricier new launch 2-bedders over resale options in 2025?

Latest

Latest
  • Daily roundup: Singapore and Malaysia police's video collaboration for Hari Raya goes viral — and other top stories today
  • Myanmar junta chief meets foreign leaders in Bangkok as earthquake toll tops 3,100
  • Russian drone barrage hits Kharkiv homes, kills 4 people
  • Trump offers support to French far-right leader Le Pen after her conviction
  • For Trump, tariff gamble brings political risk
  • South Korea's President Yoon ousted
  • Driver of car in Amsterdam explosion may have been attempting suicide, police say
  • Netanyahu may visit US next week, Trump says
  • South Korea's impeached President Yoon faces court ruling to decide his fate

In Case You Missed It

In Case You Missed It
  • Thai woman struggles to evacuate during earthquake while her dog sleeps unfazed
  • Workers painting exterior of Geylang block discover man's skeletal remains in flat
  • 'New, younger' PAP team vows to reclaim WP-controlled Sengkang GRC, says Lam Pin Min
  • New face Jackson Lam 'very good on the ground' and will be asset to Parliament, says Shanmugam
  • Woman who publicised tips on how she evaded GST for luxury purchases fined $18k
  • Powerful quake in Southeast Asia kills several, 81 trapped in Bangkok building rubble
  • Dog dies after being skinned alive in Malaysia, animal welfare group condemns 'barbaric' act
  • Blue for seafood, red for meat: Case partners Koufu to have colour-coded price labels at 'cai fan' stalls
  • WP will campaign for 'responsible and loyal opposition' in GE2025 to earn seats in Parliament, says Pritam
This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.