Quiet confidence drives growing muaythai club in preparing for TYT Cup

KUCHING (April 5): It is quiet confidence when it comes to Iron Monkey Muaythai Club’s preparation for the upcoming Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak (TYT) Cup and Borneo Cup 2026 Championships.

The relatively-new sports club will field seven exponents, including one woman fighter, for the grand event, to be staged on Kuching Waterfront this April 16-19.

The team comprises Ammar Amsyar Airwan, Sahzan Osman, Qailatulnur Sapiee, Salahuddin Ayyubi Mohd Kamarrudin, Abdullah Tarmizi Tambi, as well as brothers Mohd Amiruz Hisyam Hamzah and Mohd Amiruz Haziq Hamzah.

According to club’s founding president Mohd Kamarrudin Mustapa, the hope is for his charges to excel in their respective bouts, but he also acknowledges the tough fight from many contenders representing several parts of the region.

“What we are confident of is that we will give it our best.

“That said, we hope the brothers (Amiruz Hisyam and Amiruz Haziq) would replicate their victory at the Rentap Fighting Championship 2026 held in The Summer Shopping Mall Kota Samarahan in January,” he told The Borneo Post here.

Registered with the Sports Commissioner’s Office of Malaysia on Nov 28 last year, Iron Monkey made their competitive debut at the Rentap championship, where Amiruz Hisyam, 25, and Amiruz Haziq, 21, brought home the gold medals from their respective 51-54kg and 48-51kg categories.

“We did not send many exponents for the Rentap event as they were still too ‘green’.

“But for the TYT Cup, I believe that they will stage good performance. We are ready to give a good fight,” said Mohd Kamarrudin.

Going forward, he said the club would continue to actively expand the membership, and also organise more youth development programmes going from the grassroots up to the high competitive levels.

According to him, there are 18 members, three of whom are women, with the age ranging from 20 to 35.

“We not only train fighters, as we also strive to groom disciplined and mentally-strong individuals.

“Through a structured and professional muaythai training system, I believe that we can help youths steer away from being involved in social ills,” added Mohd Kamarrudin.