The 'Panther' did Hong Kong proud last weekend. The SAR's toughest adopted son, Alain N'Galani - who fled political turmoil in the Ivory Coast and came here in 2002 - literally beat all competition to win a world martial arts championship title in Singapore last weekend.
'It's all-style martial arts,' N'Galani 'the Panther' explained. 'That means everything from Muay Thai, wushu, kung fu to whatever. I was the champion last year too. It was tough and I got a little injured but I am happy.'
The imposing N'Galani trained six hours a day for the tourney with chef Harlan Goldstein acting as his main sponsor, even hiring him as head of security - so don't try to skip out on a meal without paying. But now that he represents Hong Kong, the four-times African kick-boxing champ is committed to Asia.
'I love it here! I didn't go back to Africa for political reasons but it was martial arts that brought me here. Asia is the centre of everything and Asia gives me a lot of love. I'm 31 now but I feel stronger than when I was 25.'
