THE buzz is palpable, and the Jalur Gemilang waves from every nook and cranny around the country. On Saturday, 31 August, Malaysia will be celebrating its Hari Merdeka.
And just like all Malaysians, ONE Championship’s young Muay Thai star, Mohammed “Jordan Boy” Bin Mahmoud, looks forward to ushering in this significant milestone in the country’s history – its 62nd Independence Day.
“There’s much to celebrate,” the 23-year-old Sampuri Muay Thai representative stated.
“To me, Merdeka means celebrating the fact that we’ve been able to enjoy peace and harmony in this multi-cultural country that we call home.”
The Kuala Lumpur-based athlete shared that in the past, Merdeka eve would be spent with family and sometimes friends, either at KLCC or Dataran Merdeka, just to soak in the festive atmosphere and enjoy the fireworks alongside fellow Malaysians.
However, his celebrations in the Malaysian capital city will be put on hold this year as he travels some 300 kilometers to Johor Bahru to help Mohamad Fakri “Ant Man” Bin Yusoff gear up for his ONE Championship debut at ONE: IMMORTAL TRIUMPH at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on Friday, 6 September.
“When I was younger, my siblings and I would get excited in the days leading up to Merdeka, and we’d tie the Malaysian flag everywhere, mostly around where we lived,” the Kedah native recalled.
“These days, we don’t do that anymore, but I try to at least have a flag hung outside the house, my father’s workplace, and the gym where I train.”
Suffice to say, Mohammed is a proud Malaysian and brandishes the Jalur Gemilang with pride, not only during Merdeka but also whenever he competes in ONE Championship.
But why, then, the moniker “Jordan Boy?” Does he get comments about what he truly represents?
“I have no issues being half Jordanian, half Malaysian,” he said after a thoughtful pause. “People can say what they want. When I fight, I’m fighting for my country – Malaysia. I use the moniker in a nod of respect and gratitude for my father, who’s a Jordanian, and who has always been a pillar of support for me.”
“Malaysia is where my mother is from. It’s also where my home is and where I train. When I win, victory is for my country, family, and fans, and that’s more important.”
Download the ONE Super App to catch some of Malaysia’s finest Muay Thai strikers in action in Vietnam at ONE: IMMORTAL TRIUMPH on 6 September.
