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. But his status in the nation 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.

“They gave me an award, and they gave me some cash, and I used the cash to donate to the IDP camps,” he admits, much like how he donated the proceeds from his Shopmyar Charity Auction earlier this March to the Shingni N-Bat Charity, which assists the Kachin State’s Internally Displaced Persons.

Although he lives and trains in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, he regularly keeps tabs on his homeland, because he desperately wants to help the advancement of his nation and its people.

In recent years, there have been a handful of polarizing events in Myanmar that have divided the country. Understandably, they are difficult and sensitive topics, ones that Aung La N Sang hopes can be resolved.

“There are always two sides to the story, and I just wish for peace in Myanmar, and i just wish people can get along,” he states. “The region has many different ethnic people, many people that may look alike to foreigners, but to us, we are very different.

“I think what they need to understand is what makes us unique and great, instead of our differences and what makes us enemies. It makes me sad, but if I had any voice, I would say to please be more understanding of our differences, and to work together in order to achieve peace. Let’s work together, and not break each other down.”

In late October, Aung La N Sang received his 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, and also expressed her desire for the restoration of harmony in the country.

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

He is completely focused on his athletic career, and although he does not necessarily desire a career in politics, he believes he can unite his fellow countrymen through 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.

“This is just entertainment. I know it is nothing compared to what is going on in Myanmar, but maybe this could bring all of Myanmar together — to have their ambassador, myself, competing for them. Maybe that will bring us closer together.”

Aung La N Sang will attempt to bring the nation closer 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.