A prominent Thai Muay Thai fighter, Chalongchai Minindi, has announced his retirement from amateur competition following a highly controversial loss at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in 2025. His decision comes amidst explosive allegations that the multi-sport event, hosted in his home country, was marred by corruption and predetermined match outcomes.
The controversy erupted after Chalongchai’s semi-final defeat, which he widely publicized on social media. According to reports from Thai media, the fighter took to Facebook on December 17 to voice his profound anger and disappointment regarding the contested result.
Chalongchai, a veteran in the sport, faced Filipino opponent Lj Rafael Yasay in the 51kg category. Despite many observers and spectators believing Chalongchai displayed superior performance and deserved victory, the judges’ decision awarded the bout to Yasay with a score of 29-28. This outcome dashed Chalongchai’s aspirations for a gold medal for Thailand and immediately triggered widespread criticism concerning the judging standards at the event.
In a poignant social media post, Chalongchai shared his despair and the shocking claims. “I apologize to everyone,” he wrote. “Unfortunately, this happened to me. I trained very hard for my last SEA Games, and in the end, all my efforts were in vain.” He then directly addressed the alleged corruption: “First, let me express my feelings a bit. Before the match, one of my coaches told me that my 51kg category fight was going to be fixed to give the gold medal to a Malaysian boxer. And as you can see, that is exactly what happened.”
Concluding his emotional statement, Chalongchai made a definitive announcement about his future in the sport. “This appearance was my last SEA Games competition, and it is likely my last time representing the nation.” He has decided to retire from amateur Muay Thai to fully concentrate on his professional career.
This significant controversy has severely shaken confidence in the integrity of Muay Thai judging standards at the 2025 SEA Games in Thailand. The athlete’s direct allegations have led to urgent calls for an internal investigation by the Amateur Muay Thai Association, aiming to address the serious claims made by Chalongchai Minindi.
