A Run to Bring Awareness to Muay Thai in Sudan

Caitalin Abubaker-May, a runner, personal trainer and Muay Thai coach from New Zealand based in Qatar, is planning a 21-km solo run in Sudan to bring awareness to the Thai boxing or combat sport, Muay Thai, in Sudan and raise funds for the Sudan Federation of Muay Thai, which she together with her Sudanese husband, former world champion, Muay Thai fighter and coach, Faisal Zakaria Diamond Flyer, established in the summer of 2018.

‘I do a lot of work with and a significant amount of my focus is on or related to the empowerment of women through Muay Thai, sports, general health and fitness. I want this crazy run to inspire, set an example and show the women of Sudan (and anywhere for that matter) that they too, just like me, can set fitness and health related goals for themselves and achieve them, they too can train Muay Thai; and they too can run and build health fitness and sport into their lives and be so much better off for it both physically and mentally,’ explained Caitalin.

Faisal Zakaria Diamond Flyer with donated Muay Thai items

Caitalin first visited Sudan in 2018 with Faisal for a two-week Muay Thai Seminar in Khartoum, which was attended by 60-80 fighters, trainers and other men and women. Prior to the trip, the couple collected donated shoes to give to those who needed them at the seminar as well as raised funds to help them run the seminar and help registered fighters get the necessary equipment for the seminar.

‘When we were last in Sudan, there was certainly a number of amazing young women who attended and whom I know train at a Muay Thai gym in Sudan,’ said Caitalin. ‘And the run is another aspect to encouraging and inspiring women to be the best they can be; to achieve what they dream they can…I also hope encourages the men in Sudan to get behind and actively support their women in sport and health, it’s not easy for Sudanese women wanting to train, there are clear struggles but they need an environment which accepts, trains and treats them as equals and on par with the men. Women have as much potential within sport as the men do if the playing fields are levelled.’

During their trip to Sudan in 2018, the couple established the Sudan Federation of Muay Thai. ‘Establishing the Sudan Federation of Muay Thai was important to us for a number of reasons; the main being that it provides a platform to develop and professionalise the sport of Muay Thai in Sudan and formally connect Sudan Muay Thai with Thai and Global Muay Thai organisations, federations and communities. Having the Sudan Federation of Muay Thai enables young and aspiring Muay Thai athletes both men and women to officially compete in International Federation of Muay Thai (IFMA) and World Muay Thai Council (WMC) tournaments and events – giving the young Sudanese athletes an opportunity to represent themselves and Sudan at international competitions and compete with other countries,’ explained Caitalin.

In order to accomplish the run, Caitalin has established a Give A Little fund with an open goal where the public can contribute to the cause as well as to the Sudan Federation of Muay Thai. ‘The federation needs initial funds to be able to function and put in place some of the things we are intending to for the Muay Thai community in Sudan,’ she explained. Funds will cover costs for equipment, gear, upskilling courses, offices and other federation expenses. ‘Everything costs money and we can’t do it all ourselves. There will come a point once the federation is more established that it has ways and means of creating its own income and be able to fund various projects but at the moment, right here right now, we need funds for so much that enables and empowers the sport to progress and develop,’ added Caitalin.

Caitalin and Faisal training together

By establishing the Sudan Federation of Muay Thai, Caitlin believes she and Faisal are leaving their legacy or permanent mark on the future of Muay Thai in Sudan. ‘Faisal is a Sudanese Champion of Muay Thai who has achieved incredible success within the sport against all odds and struggles that he faced. He is a world champion times over and has over 250 international fights to his credit with too many titles and belts to his name. He has endured, struggled and strived to achieve incredible international success and income from this sport and represents what can be achieved by the Sudanese,’ said Caitalin about her husband.

In 2016, the martial art of Muay Thai and cheerleading received provisional recognition as Olympic sports. ‘With the correct support, guidance and professionalism of the sport in Sudan, there is a strong possibility for Sudan to compete at future Olympics in Muay Thai. Pause and think about that for a minute and what that means to Sudanese Muay Thai athletes and Sudan as a country,’ explained Caitalin.

The federation is currently being run by a team in Sudan that were carefully and deliberately selected by Faisal and Caitalin. The couple will continue to work with the team from Qatar and visit Sudan on occasions such as the upcoming run.

‘We had decided that we would do my run in March/April when we were intending to officially launch the Federation of Muay Thai Sudan but nothing is simple nor easy. And because of the recent political issues in Sudan, we feel it better to be in July/August where we will complete my run, hold a Muay Thai seminar, and officially launch the Federation,’ explained Caitalin. Faisal will not be joining Caitalin on the run due to injuries he sustained in Muay Thai training and fights. ‘He is of more support to me not running but being alongside a part of my immediate support crew,’ she said.

The two met in New Zealand when Faisal traveled to the country for a Muay Thai fight. Six months later, they were married and began to travel the world together as Muay Thai trainers, having lived in Tokyo, Thailand, New Zealand and now Qatar. While living in Bangkok, they established a Muay Thai gym called LKT Diamond Fighting Muay Thai and also opened Diamond Fighting Muay Thai in Auckland. 

In addition to the ongoing protests in Sudan, Caitalin has a few concerns regarding her upcoming run in Sudan such as the country’s road infrastructure, organising the official route from Khartoum to Omdurman and getting official permission to run the Omdurman Bridge.

For now, Caitalin is focused on making sure that she trains well and is strong and fit enough to achieve a successful run. ‘I will run it alone but with support crew, running various short distances with me, a bike route leader, my husband alongside on bike or tuk tuk with water, safety and first aid gear, and obviously, I think media will check it out on the day,’ she said. ‘Challenges will be the team organising the official route from Khartoum to Omdurman and getting formal permission to run the Nile bridge – and making sure the run is well planned to take into account, jet lag, acclimatising and maintaining my focus on arrival in Sudan, which will be incredibly difficult with there always being so much chaos and excitement on arriving in Khartoum. It’s hectic!’

‘I guess there is a small fear or acknowledgement that some people or organisation in Sudan won’t like and take offense at what I am doing but I don’t seriously think that will be the case – I guess one fear would be that the political situation worsens and the run is further delayed – that would devastate me but we will see how the situation plays out,’ explained Caitalin.

If the run succeeds, Caitalin hopes to establish an annual marathon for runners in Sudan. ‘I have a vision that if all goes well and according to plan with my half marathon run from Khartoum over the Nile to Omdurman and it is deemed a success, I am committed to move forward to establish an official registered Marathon (42, 21, 10 and 5 km) in Sudan that is annual and provides all sorts of other opportunities to get the people of Sudan out running, especially women. I am extremely passionate about the empowerment of women through sports namely Muay Thai and running,’ she explained. ‘I have looked so often for registered races to run in Sudan and was amazed there to the best of my knowledge is none. On so many levels, this would be an incredible achievement. It would be a dream and a legacy I leave, inshallah.’

To learn more about the run or contribute to the cause, visit the Give A Little fund.