This blog continues the investigation conducted by Hemanth Kumar, Founder of Golden Mongkhon International, Karnataka State MuayThai championship faced a female bout dispute which was sanctioned by Golden Mongkhon, after Mr. Kumar personally spoke with all officials present during the bout and coaches who were present there.
Golden Mongkhon publishes this statement to present a clear, factual account of what emerged after hearing both versions of the incident, without bias and without assumption.
Findings After the Video Review Investigation
After completing the investigation, officials confirmed that the video review again resulted in a split decision, this time in favor of the fighter who applied for the review.
Under Golden Mongkhon incident-resolution procedures, officials immediately decided to conduct a one-round rematch (2–3 minutes) as the final sporting solution.
Officials clearly communicated this decision.
Both coaches accepted it.
Both fighters agreed to settle the matter inside the ring.
The fighters & coaches demonstrated utmost Muay Thai courage and professionalism by accepting this outcome without hesitation.
Medical Clearance and Safety
On the following day, during mandatory medical testing, the female fighter who had originally won the bout failed to clear medical examination due to a swollen ankle.
Golden Mongkhon places athlete safety above all else. Without medical clearance, the rematch could not proceed.
Golden Mongkhon Video Review Rule — Clear Position
The investigation reaffirmed an important Golden Mongkhon rule:
Golden Mongkhon never awards wins or medals based on video review alone.
Golden Mongkhon introduced video review only to give fighters and coaches a fair opportunity to raise concerns.
If the review challenges the original result, the organisation conducts a one-round rematch.
That round produces the final and binding result.
In this case:
- Officials respected the live-scoring winner
- Officials acknowledged the video review outcome
- Medical failure stopped the rematch
Considering all three factors, officials ruled No Gold Medal awarded. This decision respected both the live bout and the review process without violating safety or rules.
Post-Decision Disagreement
After officials announced the ruling, the coach of the fighter who applied for video review demanded the Gold Medal.
At this stage, the investigation could not clearly determine whether:
- officials failed to communicate the rule effectively, or
- the coach could not accept or process the explanation at that moment
What remained clear was this: Golden Mongkhon rules do not permit awarding a Gold Medal under these circumstances.
Founder-Level Intervention
After reviewing the situation in full, Mr. Hemanth Kumar requested senior official Dilip Kumar J to personally meet the coach and explain the decision again in detail.
Mr. Dilip met the coach on 15th November 2025 at a restaurant. During this meeting, he clearly explained:
- the investigation outcome
- the video review rule
- the impact of failed medical clearance
The officials conveyed the same explanation to the wider team.
Exploring a Sporting Resolution
Golden Mongkhon officials proposed a rematch during the National Championships on 10th January 2026.
The fighter and coach requested an earlier bout, as the fighter planned to move to another weight division for a different January event.
Golden Mongkhon evaluated this request seriously. However, arranging another fight earlier created challenges related to:
- medical protocols
- fighter availability
- regulatory responsibility
After reviewing all options, 10th January 2026 remains the most practical and fair solution, provided both fighters:
- remain available
- clear medical tests
- compete under official conditions
Learning and Accountability
Golden Mongkhon has documented this incident as a formal case study. The organisation will use it in future referee and judge training programs, with special focus on:
- communication during disputes
- handling emotionally charged situations
- rule clarity under pressure
Golden Mongkhon International continues to uphold:
- rule-based governance
- athlete safety
- transparency
- professionalism over convenience
The final Amateur Rankings for 2025 will be released on 17th November 2025.
Professionalism shows its true strength not when situations are easy —
but when difficult decisions must stand firm.
