Battling a fever, a ligament injury, and the effects of an intense weight cut, an INTI International College Penang student stepped into the ring against a Thai opponent and walked away a national Muay Thai champion.
Thamilharashan A/L Nallapen won the 52.2kg strawweight title at the Muay Thai Warriors Championship held on 15 March at Bunker Hub, Damansara. The national-level competition featured close to 100 fighters, including competitors from Thailand.
INTI student Thamilharashan A/L Nallapen in action during a Muay Thai bout, where he went on to secure the national championship title despite competing while dealing with fever and injury.
He secured the title by points, adjusting his approach as the fight progressed. He had been preparing for the competition for several months leading up to the event.
“My fever started the day before, and my right leg was already injured from training,” he said. “I knew I could not rely on strength, so I focused on timing, control, and fighting smart.”
Facing an opponent with a different fighting rhythm, particularly in clinching, he avoided aggressive exchanges and focused on reading movement and managing each round.
“The Thai opponent had a different rhythm, so I had to stay patient and read his movement,” he added.
The most testing moment came in the final round. Fatigue began to set in, and the strain on his injured leg became harder to manage. Even so, he stayed composed and followed his game plan to close out the fight.
“By the final round, I could feel my energy dropping, but I stayed focused and controlled the pace,” he said.
His trainers, Nurhan Iskandar and Seylva Komaar, pointed to his ability to adjust during the fight.
“He was not in peak condition and started to lose energy earlier than usual, but his fight IQ allowed him to stay in control,” they said. “That ability to adjust mid-fight made the difference.”
Thamilharashan A/L Nallapen (left) celebrates after being declared champion at the Muay Thai Warriors Championship held at Bunker Hub, Damansara.
At INTI International College Penang, Thamilharashan follows a demanding routine that combines classes, strength and conditioning sessions, and daily Muay Thai training. His schedule reflects the discipline required to manage both academic commitments and competitive sport.
He is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Business (3+0) in collaboration with Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, while maintaining his training and competition schedule.
His journey in combat sports began at age 6 with Taekwondo. He went on to become a multiple-time national champion and represented Malaysia internationally, including winning a bronze medal at the Australia World Cup in 2018. His move into Muay Thai marks a step into more demanding, full-contact competition.
With this national title, he is now preparing for upcoming bouts and aims to compete at the regional and international levels. The win comes after one of his most physically demanding fights to date.
“My goal is to build my record and fight on bigger stages,” he said.