Through His Success, Aung La N Sang Hopes To Unite Myanmar

Aung La N Sang is determined to be a great ambassador for Myanmar.

Over the past few years, the “Burmese Python” has already emerged as a prominent hero in his home country through his success in ONE Championship.

His status in the nation then transformed dramatically when he defeated previously-unbeaten titleholder Vitaly Bigdash for the ONE Middleweight World Championship at ONE: LIGHT OF A NATION in Yangon, Myanmar.

That night, on 30 June, he also became the first Myanmar-born World Champion, an enormous accomplishment he hopes will inspire his fellow countrymen.

“I knew it was a history defining moment, and it is going to give people in Myanmar hope that they can also compete at a high level in what they want to do,” the 32-year-old says. “I also hope it encourages them in the pursuit for greatness when it comes to sports.”

Following his epic post-match celebration with his fellow compatriots inside the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium, Aung La N Sang started to realize just how important the victory truly was.

Many high-ranking government officials met with the “Burmese Python” after his victory to express their support, and Myanmar’s Ministry of Defence even gave him a monetary token of appreciation.

What’s more, in late October, Aung La N Sang received the greatest-ever testament that his work in Myanmar was indeed getting the right attention. The ONE Middleweight World Champion met with Aung San Suu Kyi, the State Counsellor of Myanmar, who provided him with words of encouragement.

Now, as Myanmar’s foremost sporting hero, Aung La N Sang has a great responsibility to influence people throughout the nation using the power of martial arts.

Aung La N Sang plans to do that by continuing to deliver exciting performances, giving advice to other talented Myanmar martial artists, and representing the country well in all of his endeavors.

“The change I can make is by doing the best I can in the cage, being a good ambassador, being a good human being, and leading by example,” he states. “Maybe this could bring all of Myanmar together — to have their ambassador, myself, competing for them.”

Aung La N Sang will attempt to do so once again when he returns to the Thuwunna Indoor Stadium, and clashes with Alain “The Panther” Ngalani in the promotion’s first-ever Open Weight Super Bout at ONE: HERO’S DREAM on Friday, 3 November.

A victory would go a long way in helping to make the Myanmar hero’s dreams a reality.