Selangor: Selangor is ready to work with Malaysian professional Muay Thai athlete Johan Ghazali, better known as Jojo, to strengthen the development of the sport at the state level.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, State Youth, Sports and Entrepreneurship Committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi said his meeting with the 19-year-old athlete opened the door to preliminary discussions on proposals to upgrade the combat sport training ecosystem. “He (Jojo) expressed his intention and commitment to play a more active role in developing Muay Thai on a broader scale, covering not only the state but also the sport’s bright future at the national level,” he stated.
Mohd Najwan mentioned that Jojo shared his training experience in Bangkok, Thailand, and put forward several proposals he believes could drive the development of Muay Thai in Selangor. He conveyed this information to reporters at the Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) headquarters.
Earlier, Mohd Najwan officiated the closing ceremony of the Graduate Entrepreneur Programme (GROW) and its advanced segment (GROW PLUS), organised by PKNS, before presenting certificates and trophies to 60 graduates who had completed more than 20 business modules from March to November. The programmes collectively recorded cumulative sales of nearly RM106 million.
Mohd Najwan highlighted that Jojo is currently undergoing full-time intensive training in Bangkok due to the lack of facilities, coaching expertise, and avenues for the sport’s development across Malaysia. Jojo raised the need to explore the establishment of a dedicated hub or training centre for Muay Thai athletes in Selangor. “According to Jojo, many promising athletes are currently training in small clubs or community gyms and do not yet have access to large-scale training facilities,” Mohd Najwan added.
Mohd Najwan also noted Jojo’s offer to serve as a spokesperson for Muay Thai athletes, welcoming this as athletes like Jojo can help strengthen efforts to expand the sport’s grassroots development. He mentioned that the state government will consider potential synergies and forms of collaboration that could be explored with Jojo. “So far, no timeline has been set as the meeting was an initial session, but follow-up actions will be undertaken next year,” he said, adding that Muay Thai currently enjoys strong support and can help instil discipline and character in athletes if developed professionally.
Jojo, accompanied by his parents, visited Mohd Najwan’s office yesterday afternoon for a discussion on plans to boost Muay Thai in Malaysia, including in Selangor.