CHILDREN OF MUAY THAI

In Thailand, numerous children—some as young as 5 or 6—train and compete in Muay Thai, driven by economic necessity and cultural tradition; while official registries count only a few thousand under-15 fighters, estimates suggest up to 200,000 or more participate, often in unregulated bouts, raising serious concerns about exploitation and health risks such as brain injuries and reduced IQ; despite proposed legal reforms to restrict or protect child participation ike banning under-9s or enforcing no-head-contact for those under 15—the practice remains entrenched, complicated by poverty, family expectations, and the sport’s role as a perceived pathway to social mobility.