Addressing Integrity in Indian Muay Thai: The Case of Vidith Manjunath
It is not uncommon for us to encounter athletes who focus solely on medals and certificates, regardless of how they achieve them.
Golden Mongkhon is the only organization in India that distinguishes between “Positioned Medals” and “Won Medals” when an Indian athlete secures a medal in an international event. Positioned Medals are awarded when there are only 4, 3, or 2 competitors in a category, and a fighter receives a medal despite losing. In contrast, Won Medals are awarded when a fighter has won at least one bout before losing. Unlike other organizations that indiscriminately claim a “won medal,” we believe in fostering a culture that values genuine victories rather than creating an illusion of easy success.
Unfortunately, a shameful incident occurred at the 20th World Muay Thai Championship involving Vidith Manjunath, an under-18 athlete, which brought embarrassment to the entire Indian team.
Vidith displayed concerning behavior throughout the championship. He regularly missed training, arrived late, and often left without informing the coaches. He appeared fatigued, with dark circles under his eyes, and was visibly unstable. Upon further inquiry—conducted post-championship—we learned that he had been sneaking out at night, returning to his room at 2 or 3 AM. One of the coaches had repeatedly suggested conducting a medical test to check for possible external influences, but Mr. Hemanth dismissed the concerns, trusting his student’s discipline.
The 71kg Under-18 Division Incident
Vidith competed in the Under-18, 71kg division, which had only three competitors: Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and India. His first scheduled fight was against Kyrgyzstan. On fight day, due to a match cancellation, his bout was called earlier than expected. Fortunately, Mr. Hemanth was tracking the schedule and was able to contact Vidith in time. However, Kyrgyzstan’s fighter was slightly late, and during pre-fight checks, it was discovered that he had not wrapped his hands before putting on his gloves. As this violated the rules, the referee ruled in favor of Vidith by default, sending him directly to the finals without a fight.
Following this, the Kyrgyzstan coach approached Mr. Hemanth, acknowledging the situation and requesting a sparring session after Vidith’s final match in the spirit of Muay Thai culture. Mr. Hemanth, suspecting something unusual, postponed the decision until after the final.
Vidith’s behavior did not improve—he continued missing training sessions, ignoring calls from coaches and even fellow team members’ parents. The next day, two Indian fighters suffered significant injuries: one required over 20 stitches for a deep lip cut, while another top Indian fighter was brutally knocked out. Witnessing these incidents, Vidith visibly displayed fear.
During the daily coaches’ meeting, it was unanimously decided to pull Vidith from the finals. He was not mentally or physically prepared, and his reluctance to train raised serious concerns about his safety. Further investigation revealed that the Kyrgyzstan fighter was actually an Uzbekistani fighter competing under Kyrgyzstan’s flag—a crucial detail that became evident when the opposing coach was later seen wearing an Uzbekistan team t-shirt. Given this revelation, it was suspected that the final bout would be extremely tough for Vidith, who had only fought three times in his career, with one being a club sparring session.
Parents who traveled with us, unaware of the coaches’ decision, approached Mr. Hemanth Kumar, requesting that he speak with Vidith and motivate him, as he was visibly unsure. Mr. Hemanth firmly responded that the championship was not a place to “motivate” an unprepared athlete—if Vidith was not mentally ready, he would not be allowed to fight.
Ethical Violation: The Medal Controversy
Vidith and his parents were informed of the decision to withdraw him from the finals for his safety. However, instead of understanding the risks, they reacted inappropriately. Vidith’s mother contacted another coach, who trains her younger son in boxing, and suggested that Vidith should enter the ring, and if things went south, they could throw in the towel—guaranteeing at least a silver medal for India. This raises serious concerns about the credibility of the coach and the ethical values being instilled..
This statement angered Mr. Hemanth, as it went against the fundamental ethics of Muay Thai. Winning a medal through forfeiture or planned surrender is a disgrace to the sport. When this unethical suggestion was denied, tensions escalated further.
Shortly after, news surfaced that Vidith had threatened a coach, stating, “I will beat you all up.” This blatant act of disrespect left no room for reconsideration—Vidith was completely removed from the competition roster and denied any medal.
Vidith’s parents continued to pressure the coaches and Mr. Hemanth, requesting at least a medal. It was firmly explained that medals cannot be awarded to an athlete who withdrew from the fight.
A Dishonorable Act
On the final day of the medal ceremony, Vidith’s mother once again attempted to persuade Mr. Hemanth, who refused to engage further. However, Vidith managed to sneak into the medal distribution area and unlawfully took a medal.
This was quickly brought to the attention of the officials. When confronted, Vidith initially denied taking any medal, but multiple witnesses—including a concerned parent—urged his mother to ask him to return it. Instead of cooperating, his mother also denied the allegations. If she was genuinely unaware of her son’s actions, it is regrettable; however, if she was complicit, then the root of the problem is evident.
Vidith was eventually called down from his room to the hotel lobby, where he confessed that he and another athlete, Vignesh, had taken the medal. When asked to return it, he went back to his room, retrieved the medal and certificate, and surrendered them.
Outraged and ashamed of his own student, Mr. Hemanth reprimanded Vidith and sent him back to his room. Further inquiries confirmed that Vidith had indeed been sneaking out at night, staying out until 2 or 3 AM, and disregarding all team discipline.
Official Actions
While we had the option to silence this issue and move on, we have chosen the difficult path—one that upholds integrity and the true spirit of Muay Thai. In a sport that struggles for recognition from the government, it is crucial that someone stands up for what is right.
We demand an apology letter from Vidith, setting an example for future athletes that the only way to earn a medal is by winning and deserving it. Any alternative approach shall not be accepted, and strict action will be taken, including stripping all their records and ensuring that Golden Mongkhon will never extend support to them. This is a matter of respect for those athletes who sweat, bleed, and sacrifice to become champions.
