Opening night of IFMA Asian Muay Thai Championship in Abu Dhabi goes off with a bang

Emirati Ibrahim Bilal opens with a brutal first-round stoppage while Amine Al Moatassime gets a walkover win to progress to Round 2

Yemen's Akram Alyminee, in red, in action against Hyan Aljmyah of Syria at the IFMA Asian Muay Thai Championship Abu Dhabi 2019. Victor Besa / The National

Ibrahim Bilal took a little over 20 seconds to knockout Bhanu Pratap Pandit on an action-packed opening night of the IFMA Asian Muay Thai Championship in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.

The Emirati chopped his Indian opponent down with a kick and then a vicious left hook to leave the crowd at the Breakwater awestruck.

“I was going for a win and it didn’t matter how it came, by points or the way it turned out for me tonight,” Bilal said after having his hand raised in victory at the end of his Round 1, 61-kilogram contest.

“When I entered the ring I was only focused on the fight and my opponent. I didn’t have a clue of my opponent and just focused on my own game.

“Fortunately for me I managed to get through his defence and I could feel that punch landed very hard on him. I knew it was the end of the fight straightaway.

“He still managed to get to his feet but I knew I could have finished him off at that point. I’m super happy with the result and already looking forward to the next opponent.

“I want to thank the technical staff for the kind of preparation they made to get us into this level. It was hard work all the way to this point and tonight was a reward for that.”

Bilal, 18, will next meet Syrian Hyan Aljmyah, who forced Akram Alyminee of Yemen into a first-round retirement.

Aljmyah floored Alyminee twice in the opening exchanges with some sharp punches to the face. The bell appeared to have saved the stricken Alyminee, but with a bloodied mouth and after consultation with his corner, thought better of coming out for the second round.

“This was only my first contest at this level and obviously I want to go all the way to the medal round,” Bilal said.

“I have a fair idea of my next opponent because he was in the ring before me. In this game, it doesn’t matter what the opponent possesses but I’m going to go with what I have been taught and the instructions given by my corner.

“There are no easy fights at this level anyway. My aim, as always, is to go out there and give my best. I wish I can replicate my fight of tonight. If I can do it again, it would be a dream come true.”

The easiest win of the night came for Emirati Amine Al Moatassime, who didn’t even have to break a sweat to move into Round 2 after his opponent, Ritiz Puri of Nepal, conceded a walkover in the 71kg weight.

Al Moatassime will next face Iranian Seyed Kaveh Solayman, who showed excellent technique to outclass Abedel Rahman of Jordan, with the referee stopping the contest midway through the third round.

The championship began with a stunning upset when Afghanistan’s Ahmad Shuja Jamal clinched a split decision over Thailand’s Krisada Takhiankliang in the opening match.

Jamal had to rally after losing the first round to win the next two 10-9, 10-9 to earn a second-round meeting with Yerkanat Ospan of Kazakhstan, who drew a first round bye.

The UAE have seven fighters vying for honours in the open division, with 13 - including one female - in the age groups.

The Asian Championship continues at the same venue daily from 2pm through till Saturday.