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Leow learns from loss to top muay thai rankings

The Straits Times

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December 24, 2025

Disappointment can be a powerful motivator.

- Kimberly Kwek

In the case of Singaporean muay thai fighter Winnia Leow, it served to propel her to a three-match winning streak and top of the world rankings.Just eight months ago, the 26-year-old was gutted after falling short in her quest for the International Sport Kickboxing Association (ISKA) flyweight world title.

While the manner of her 3-2 loss to defending champion Kim Townsend in April was tough to take, she matched her Australian opponent in the early rounds and reinforced the belief that she could compete against the world's best.

She recalled: "There are many people who can walk away from that loss and say it's okay, I did well, I put up a good fight.

"The flip side is actually my team was very upset, not because I was not good, but because it was so close I could have won.

"But why I lost was because I didn't go for it.

"I didn't leave everything in the ring, I was holding back a lot in the last two rounds."

In May, she was back in the ring, this time taking on Thailand's Zaidania Looksaikongdin in the Rajadamnern World Series (RWS).

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