BANGKOK — 10 January 2026, Thailand Privilege Card presented “Friends of Thailand” membership cards to three foreign Muay Thai fighters from the Rajadamnern World Series, recognising their role in promoting Muay Thai internationally and supporting Thai culture.
The presentation took place at Rajadamnern Boxing Stadium and was organised in collaboration with the Rajadamnern World Series.
“The presentation of the ‘Friends of Thailand’ cards this time is a collaboration between Thailand Privilege Card and an expression of gratitude to three individuals for their role in promoting Muay Thai to an international audience,” said Manatase Annawat, president of Thailand Privilege Card (TPC).
“As individuals who contribute significantly to promoting Muay Thai and Thai culture globally, we presented special membership cards under the title ‘Friends of Muay Thai – Friends of Thailand’ to three international fighters,” he said.
The Best International Fighter (male) award went to Karl Tannian, champion of the Rajadamnern World Series 2025.
The Best International Fighter (female) award was presented to Barbara Aguiar, the 2025 RWS female champion.
The Best International Rising Star award went to Marie Ruumet.
Tannian, from Cork, Ireland, emerged in 2025 as one of the fastest-rising figures in international Muay Thai, according to TPC. By October 2025, he held a 4-0 record in RWS, showing steady improvement in each bout. He later finished the season with a perfect 5-0 record, becoming the only non-Thai fighter to achieve that feat in RWS in 2025.
Aguiar, from Brazil, moved to Thailand in 2020 to train at Phuket Fight Club. She won the WBC Muay Thai bantamweight world title in 2022 and captured the RWS championship in 2024. In 2025, she made history again by winning the Rajadamnern Stadium title at 118 pounds, becoming the first non-Thai woman to do so.
Ruumet, from Estonia, competes in the 112-pound division and is regarded as one of the top fighters in her weight class. She was the only fighter to defeat the 2024 RWS tournament champion.
Known as Marie “Snow Leopard” Ruumet, she has been described by organisers as an inspiration to female Muay Thai fighters worldwide and a potential future star of the sport as her career at RWS continues to develop.
The three fighters join a group of 75 foreign individuals recognised under the Friends of Thailand initiative for contributions to the country. Past recipients include foreign volunteers involved in the Tham Luang cave rescue, Indian actor Sonu Sood, who was also appointed an honorary tourism consultant to the Tourism Authority of Thailand, and Bollywood film director Abhishek Rao for his role in promoting Thai tourism in India.
Thailand Privilege Card was established in 2003 and currently has nearly 40,000 paid members. Membership is divided into five tiers — bronze, gold, platinum, diamond and reserve — with fees ranging from 650,000 to 5 million baht.
Benefits include long-term visa privileges, airport services, multilingual call centre support, government concierge services for immigration reporting, hotel room upgrades, and access to partner restaurants, spas, golf courses and hospitals.
The largest groups of card holders are from China, Japan and the United States, followed by Britain, Taiwan and Russia. Emerging markets include India and Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
“The primary objective of Thailand Privilege Card Company Limited is to generate revenue from international tourists and attract high-end travellers, entrepreneurs, investors and foreign residents seeking short- and long-term stays in Thailand,” the company said in a fact sheet. “The strategy aims to stimulate the Thai economy and tourism industry through both direct and indirect means.”