Nepali Muay Thai player Gunaraj Ruchal clinched gold at the 19th Muay Thai World Championship on Tuesday on 19th March, marking a historic achievement in Muay Thai for Nepal.

Competing in the semi-pro men’s 54 kg category, Ruchal secured the victory against Italy’s Graviel Olariu in the event held in Bangkok, Thailand.

Ganesh Lal Kashpati, president of the Nepal National Muay Thai Association, highlighted that before Ruchal, no Nepali athlete had ever won gold in the semi-pro division of the World Championship.

This victory came on Ruchal’s eighth attempt at the World Championship, representing the highest achievement by any Nepali athlete in Muay Thai to date.

Gunaraj’s achievement is the highest success achieved by Nepalese players in Muay Thai. Earlier, Palistha Kashpati won gold in 2019 and Sanjay Rai in 2017. Palistha and Sanjay won gold in the amateur category.

Parika Batas also won gold in the 19th edition of the World Championship. Parika won gold in the women’s 45 kg category by defeating three-time world champion Ranini Kundaswamy of Mauritius. Sushil Shah Thakuri won silver in men’s 51 kg and Guman Gharti Magar won bronze in 57 kg.