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Fifteen episodes will show the aspirants being put through rigorous training and facing adventurous challenges

Twenty nine-year-old French Muay Thai champion Rafik Bakkouri wanted a sport that would require him to use all his body parts. He was five when he started with judo and when he was around nine years old, he started looking for a teacher who could teach him kick-boxing. The young Muay Thai expert is taking part in “The Contender Asia”, the world’s first Muay Thai (kickboxing) reality competition series with 15 other contenders from all over the world.

The Contender Asia is the Asian version of the twice Emmy-nominated show, “The Contender”. Muay Thai, which is also known as “Art of the Eight Limbs”, involves the use of hands, shins, elbows and knees, to play the sport.

Shot in Singapore, the show was filmed amidst a celebrity audience like Jason Scott Lee and Daniel Henney. “The Contender” was created by Mark Burnett of “Survivor”. The reality competition series will have the 16 contenders competing for the “The Contender Asia Champion”, with prize money of $ 250,000.

Fifteen episodes will show the aspirants being put through rigorous training and facing adventurous challenges. Rafiq, who is both a fighter and trainer in Paris, says to learn the true art of martial sport, he will have to go to the land of Muay Thai – Thailand. “It is there that the Thai boxer will teach you the secret of Muay Thai.”

He finds that this reality series has given him “a good opportunity to fight good fighters”. He states, “A good fighter is a sign of an intelligent person. Each fight, each loss is a lesson for me to be stronger and I learn so much from it.”

For Rafiq, Muay Thai is not a monotonous sport. “One spends so much time on the sport – you sacrifice so much – that the before and the after of the game matters.” He adds: “Being a Muay Thai champion means you get a great deal of respect, besides giving you a peaceful spirit.”

Rafiq feels that the “The Contender Asia” was an opportunity for him to meet fellow kick boxers and observe the game. “It is difficult for 16 people to agree with each other but the best moments have been in the ring.” He signs off: “I have sacrificed ten years of my life for this moment – this is a sport that I love.” Watch the series every Wednesday at 10 p.m. on AXN.

AYESHA MATTHAN

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