By Michael Uugwanga
The country’s leading female Muay Thai fi ghter, Ndapandula Simon, won a bronze medal at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (IFMA) Senior All Disciplines World Championships in Deçan, Kosovo, last month.
Simon, who has relocated abroad in search of better opportunities in Muay Thai due to the limited number of fights available in Namibia and on the continent, said it was a great honour to fly the Namibian flag at the championships.
Speaking to Confidente, Simon, who is now based in Saudi Arabia, said her goal is to continue competing at international level while also hoping for opportunities to fight on home soil.
“I was selected to represent Namibia at the IFMA World Championships based on my experience and participation in international Muay Thai competitions. Being able to represent Namibia at that level is something I take very seriously, and I was proud to carry the Namibian flag on such a big international stage.
“I fought against athletes from Germany and Poland during the World Championships in Kosovo. It was a very valuable experience for me because I was competing against fighters from different countries and different Muay Thai backgrounds. The championship was held in September 2026 in Deçan, Kosovo, at the Ruzhdi Ramosaj Sports Hall,” said Simon.
Muay Thai remains one of the smaller sporting codes in the country, but with fighters such as Simon competing internationally, the sport could gain more exposure and opportunities locally.
Simon said she does not yet have a confirmed opponent or date for her next fight, but remains in training to ensure she is ready when an opportunity arises.
“At the moment, I don’t have a confirmed opponent or date for my next fight. I am continuing to train and stay ready because opportunities can come up at any time. My goal is to continue competing internationally and to take on strong opponents whenever the right opportunity comes.
“I definitely want to fight on home soil. Representing Namibia internationally is an incredible honour, but there is something very special about being able to compete in front of your own people, family and supporters,” she said.
With opportunities hard to come by on a regular basis, Simon remains busy in the gym, with fighting in front of Namibian audiences still one of her ultimate dreams. So far, Simon has recorded 32 fights across Muay Thai and boxing.
In Muay Thai, she has had 23 fights, comprising three professional and 20 amateur bouts, while in boxing she has nine amateur fights.
“I would love to have the opportunity to fight in Namibia, and I hope that with the right promotion, sponsorship and support for Muay Thai, we can create more opportunities for professional and high level fighters to compete at home.
“There are unfortunately not as many opportunities for high-level Muay Thai competitions in Namibia compared with some other countries.
That is one of the reasons I have had to travel internationally to get the experience and level of competition I need to develop as a fighter,” said Simon.
