How do one support the spouse who is all into kick boxing? Not that he is a violent man, far from it, but kick boxing had been in his blood all the while. Growing up in Rantau Panjang just across Sungai Golok helped fire his passion for the sports, albeit just being a spectator. History goes that my late father-in-law would go out of his way to get the tickets to the various muay Thai bouts held in Sungai Golok. Being a border town resident, one doesn't need a passport or any form of paperwork to cross over into Thailand.
The recent AXN Muay Thai airing the sports (held at UPM) did somehow get me involved, though just in the confines of our living room viewing the show on the TV screen. It was fun but bloody and I find it more of a sports compared to the seldom viewed so-said 'entertaining' WWF.
The son-in-law got wind of the father's interest and got tickets for the Titiwangsa muay Thai bouts. Abu and the wife (Shaida) accompanied the father for the first show and the kick boxing bug had bitten him (the father) again. Now he'll be there at every opportunity and even for lesser bouts in town, alone.
Just for fun, I teased him for not inviting me along. "Nah, the place (music) is too noisy and they only have plastic chairs. Won't be comfortable enough for you." He should have tried me though. "Hah, who knows that I might naik angin enough to be the one dancing to the muay Thai introductory music. Soon you may be wondering as to who is that dancing makcik." It might be too late for him to realise that I might be the dancing makcik. Maybe that comment of mine sealed the no-invite, forever.
Last night, with an extra ticket in hand he managed to entice Nazim to join him to the bout in Titiwangsa. Seemed that father and son finally found their bonding ground. Good for them, and that put the final seal for me not to be invited along.
KakOne,
ReplyDeleteI love Muay Thai too. If the fighters are not induced to fight well via the use of stimulating drugs to give them the extra strength and overcome fear, I think this game is really fascinating. Problem creeps in when bettors use the fight to gamble and more often they will try to influence the result. I have covered some of the events that was held in Pasir Mas, Tumpat and Kota Bharu and extremely enjoyed the Muaythai Challenge program on TV.
Pak Zawi,
DeleteThe punters do indeed have their fingers in all sporting sectors, corrupting them all and consequently have them deteriorate beyond repair. That indeed are strong words and pretty judgemental. My immediate KPI is to convince the better half that Muay Thai is indeed gender neutral.