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In the Ring
Story
Includes 25 images
Credit: Eduardo Leal via Visura
Asset ID: VA31054
Caption: Available
Copyright: © Eduardo Leal, 2024
Collection:
Location: Chiang Mai, Thailand
Topics: Documentary Editorial Gender Muay Thai, Thailand, Asia, South East Asia, fighting, Women, Photography Photojournalism Sports Womens Rights

Eduardo Leal

@ Freelancer Based in Macau S.A.R., China

Eduardo Leal is a Portuguese documentary photographer usually based in Macau, China. Previously he worked for several years in South America. He graduated in Journalism at Escola Superior de Jornalismo (ESJ) and has a Masters in...
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Also by Eduardo Leal —
Cookie, 14 years old, does chin-ups during a training practice at the Sakchatree gym in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 28th September 2018. 
Cookie is the youngest fighter in Sakchatree gym, a gym almost entirely focused on female Muay Thai. She started practising the sport almost two years ago and today she has already 27 fights under her gloves, winning 22 of them.  Cookie loves to fight but her mother, Thiep, is not a fan of the sport and would prefer that Cookie practice something else, nevertheless, Thiep accompanies every single practice.
Peem practices her kicks, while a friend waits for her turn, during a training session at the Muay Thai Sakchatree gym in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 29th September 2018.
In gyms like Sakchatree, women already overpass the number of men learning Muay Thai, especially in Chiang Mai, where a local promoter sees the sport as a way to promote equality. All girls are allowed to practise free of charge in Sakchatree gym.
Lisanne van der Molen practices punching on a boxing bag during a training session at the Hongthong gym in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 20th September 2018.
Lisanne is one of the many foreigners that come to Chiang Mai to practice Muay Thai. She practices in Thailand because here she can fight regularly in a professional environment. In South America or Europe, she struggles to find enough fights. Originally from Holland, she now represents Peru, her husband and coach country, in international competitions. Lisanne won the gold medal at the Pan-American Games in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and got a bronze medal during the Muay Thai World Cup in 2017.
Peem struggles against a fighter during a training session at the Muay Thai Sakchatree gym in Chiang Mai, Thailand, 27th September 2018. 
Practising against men is a way for women to measure their strength and to become stronger since men’s Muay Thai is usually much more physical.
Cookie runs attached to a tire on the streets of Chiang Mai, Thailand, 28th September 2018. 
Muay Thai is an extremely physically demanding sport, so athletes have to push as hard as possible during training in order to be able to perform in the ring.
Female fighters walk on the streets of Khorat before an all-female Muay Thai tournament in Khorat, Thailand, 4th October 2018. 
Nowadays there are more female Muay Thai tournaments happening in Thailand. Is a way to give new fighting opportunities to the athletes, advertise and attract new fighters to the sport.
Peem looks into her phone while resting with other fighters in a hotel room in Khorat, Thailand, 4th October 2018. 
After driving for nine hours at night from Chiang Mai to Khorat, fighters take a rest and are given intravenous glucose in order to recover for the fight ahead.
Before the fight, Nong Benz and Peem put make-up in the hotel room in Khorat, Thailand, 4th October 2018.
Many women fighters like to use make-up during fights since it can show their feminine side even if Muay Thai is usually connected to masculinity.
Naem Peaw, 15, receives a foot massage before a fight at the Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 5th October 2018. 
Before each combat, athletes must have a warm-up session to avoid injuries during the fight.
Kriswarakarn Srivichai gives an indication to Naem Peaw before her fight at the Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 5th October 2018. 
Coaches like Kriswarakarn, start focusing only on female fighters and they are one of the main reasons for the development of female Muay Thai in Chiang Mai.
Detail of the hands of a female fighter before combat during the Hero Fight Thailand, an all-female tournament in Khorat, 4th October 2018.
Nitida Leksanun has her gloves tightened before combat at the Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 21st September 2018.
Cookie has her photograph taken before combat, while other boxers chill out in the competitor's area at the Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 21st September 2018. 
Thaphae International Boxing Stadium is the venue that has been pushing more for the development of female Muay Thai. At least two of the six fights held every night are between female boxers.
Nong Benz, 20, waits for her turn to enter the ring during Hero Fight Thailand, an all-female Muay Thai tournament in Khorat, 4th October 2018. 
Nowadays there are more female Muay Thai tournaments happening in Thailand. Is a way to give new fighting opportunities to the athletes, advertise and attract new fighters to the sport.
Sylvie von Duuglas-Ittu passes under the rope before the start of a fight at the ThaPhae International Boxing ring in Chiang Mai, 25th September 2018.
Sylvie moved from the US to Thailand in 2011 in order to become a full-time Muay Thai fighter. Since then, she became one of the most recognized fighters in the country. Until today, Sylvie fought 236 fights when most of the legends of the sport reach one hundred and something fights. Her goal now is to break the record of the maximum fights ever recorded in the history of the sport, 471.
Only female fighters enter the ring by passing under the ropes, while men pass on top of it. For some female fighters, it is seen as discrimination since in Thai culture the perception is that the head is clean and the feet are filthy, so for some is like you are degrading yourself.  
Nutthaya Namongkol, better known as Peem, 16, prepares herself in the corner of the boxing ring before the beginning of a fight in an all-female Muay Thai tournament in Khorat, 4th October 2018. 
Nitida Leksanun kicks an opponent during combat at Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 21st September 2018. 
Muay Thai is called the ‘art of the eight limbs’ as fighters can use fists, elbows, knees and shins to attack the opponent.
Two little girls fight in the ring during the Hero Fight Thailand, an all-female Muay Thai tournament in Khorat, 4th October 2018.
A month later, a 13-year-old boy died after being knocked out during combat in Bangkok. Thai lawmakers are considering legislation to ban children under 12 from competitive boxing. Child boxing is popular in the country and is a way for children to help provide for their families.
Nitida Leksanun receives indications from her coach during a fight at the Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 21st September 2018.
Naem Peaw punches the opponent during a fight at the Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 29th September 2018. 
Muay Thai is called the ‘art of the eight limbs’ as fighters can use fists, elbows, knees and shins to attack the opponent.
Nong Benz follows on the ringside the combat of one of her friends at the Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 21th September 2018. 
Female fighters found in the sport a community and a family of like-minded people that love to fight and they support each other every time one of them has to combat.
Naem Peaw struggles with her opponent on the corner of the ring during a fight at the Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 29th September 2018.
A female fighter sits on the corner of the ring while waiting for the referee's decision on the combat winner at Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 19th September 2018.
Nitida Leksanun abandons the ring area at the Thaphae International Boxing stadium in Chiang Mai, 21st September 2018.
A pink boxing glove is left behind on the side of the ring, 20th September 2018.