Young Thai teen boxes to support her grandmother
After losing her father, who trained her, last year in an accident, 14-year-old Wijitra Boon-in hopes to someday meet her mother who walked out on her
By Phubet Faithes
A 14-year-old girl taught Muay Thai by her father is boxing successfully in competitions in her home province and nearby, helping support her grandmother and pay off the family house.
Wijitra “Ann” Boon-in, a student at Ban Dan Lan Hoi Wittaya School in Ban Dan Lan Hoi district, said on Wednesday her late father was a Muay Thai boxer. He had passed his love of the sport on to her and began training her when she was in Grade six. She started fighting in the ring when she entered secondary school.
“I earn 500 baht (US$14.71) to 600 baht (US$17.65) per fight. I have fought 18 bouts with 14 victories, three losses and one draw,” Wijitra said.
“I dream of becoming a physical education teacher because I love this field. I think it would be a secure job and I would have a regular income to take good care of my grandmother.”
She said her father died in an accident last year. Her mother had walked out on them when she was eight months old, and he and his mother had raised her.