KOTA KINABALU — At just 21, Malaysia’s Yan Jia Chi — better known as Angie — has become a rising star in international Muay Thai. Originally a pianist, Angie made a stunning transition into the sport, clinching three consecutive gold medals at the IFMA Senior World Championships (2023–2025) and winning the Wai Kru solo category at this year’s IFMA Asian Championships in Vietnam.

A two-time Malaysia Games (Sukma) gold medalist, she also proudly represented Malaysia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Born in Johor and raised in Sabah, Angie started her journey in 2019 and now trains in Thailand, the heartland of Muay Thai, balancing intense training with university studies.

Despite injuries and mental hurdles, including knee swelling and motivation dips, she continues to push through — training up to six hours daily during tournament prep. Angie credits her growth to Thai-style discipline and support from elite coaches and athletes, proving that passion can strike from anywhere — even behind a piano.