Meet Filipina Muay Thai Fighter Islay Erika Bomogao
ISLAY ERIKA BOMOGAO – The Filipina athlete has been officially recognized as the World’s No. 1 in the 45kg female elite division of Muay Thai by the International Federation of Muay Amateur (IFMA). This recognition follows her recent victory over Australian Muay Thai reigning champion Sarah Kwa, earning her a total of 1,920 points.
Islay, an 23-year-old from Baguio City, only began practicing Muay Thai in 2015. Despite her relatively recent entry into the sport, she has already achieved significant success on the international stage. Her accomplishments include winning gold at the 2017 Jincheon 1st World Youth Martial Arts Masterships in South Korea, the 2018 IFMA Youth World Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, and the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi.
In the world rankings, Islay is followed by competitors such as Hyunh Ha Huu Hieu of Vietnam, who holds 1,560 points, Hattan Alsaif of Saudi Arabia with 1,372 points, Alena Liashkevich of Belarus with 720 points, and Camiella Adanielsson of Sweden, who has 640 points.
Meanwhile, Muay Thai, often referred to as “The Art of Eight Limbs,” is a traditional martial art and combat sport that originated in Thailand. It is distinguished by its use of punches, kicks, elbows, and knee strikes, allowing practitioners to attack with eight points of contact, compared to two points (fists) in boxing and four points (fists and feet) in other martial arts. Muay Thai has deep cultural and historical roots, initially developed for battlefield combat by Thai warriors.
Over centuries, it evolved into a popular sport and a means of self-defense, gaining international recognition for its effectiveness and rigor. The sport is also a physically demanding discipline, requiring high levels of conditioning, strength, and mental toughness. Fighters train intensively to master not only the physical techniques but also the strategy and timing that are crucial to success in the ring. Beyond its physical benefits, Muay Thai is also seen as a way to instill discipline, respect, and a warrior spirit in its practitioners.