Openly gay Muay Thai fighter Alana Neal has won the state title in the sport after a fight on Saturday March 1st.
Neal has been involved in the martial arts-based combat sport for three years and has been fighting competitively for two. The state title represents a huge achievement to her as a fighter, and is one of the first hallmarks of her sporting career.
“That was my one thing that when I started fighting I thought ‘I would just love to have a belt one day’ and I feel pretty happy with that. I’m feeling pretty sore as well.” She said. The state champion also says she never thought she’d be fighting competitively “I really didn’t think it was something I could do and my trainer, just a few months in said ‘would you be interested in having a fight?’ so I said ‘sure’ and never thought it would eventuate. And then I think it was a year in that I was in the ring. And I had a good win the first time and I sort of kept doing it. But each time I get in the ring I still can’t believe that I’m in there. I sort of fell into it. I think I just wanted to see if I could do it, but I’ve just kept on going back.”
Sophie Joske
