9th Heroes Taekwondo International Championship 2026
14 yrs · 65kg+ · Pakistan Markhor · Seed #5
📅 31 July 2026📍 Pattaya, Thailand⚠️ 6 Fighters · Knockout
🏆 Bracket — Round-by-Round
Class A single-elimination. Seeds #1 & #2 get BYES to semifinal. Arham (#5) fights in Quarterfinal 1.
4Pakonkerd Runghirun 🇹🇭 RUJI TEAM A
🔥 QF1
5⭐ ARHAM MUNAF 🇵🇰 Pakistan Markhor
ROUND 1
↓ Winner → Semifinal 1
3Supakorn Chokkrongsamoot 🇹🇭 RSR Taekwondo Team A
QF2
6Abhay Dahiya 🇮🇳 India Dojang Sports
ROUND 1
↓ Winner → Semifinal 2
1Channarong Butwong 🇹🇭 Taweesilp B
BYE → SF1
2Thanat Pothisakul 🇹🇭 Taweesilp A
BYE → SF2
🏆 GOLD FINAL ← Semifinal Winners
🥉 BRONZE ← Semifinal Losers
🥊 R1 — Pakonkerd Runghirun
Seed #4🇹🇭 RUJI TEAM A · Bangkok🥈 Silver — Suratthani 2026
📊 Scouting Report
Pakonkerd trains under RUJI Taekwondo Nimitmai (Bangkok). He recently won SILVER at the 13th Suratthani TKD Championship (July 25, 2026 — just 6 days ago!) in the exact same weight class as Arham. Instagram: @p.runghirun
Style: Close-range in-fighter. He likes to get inside the pocket and score with body kicks + fast combinations. Not particularly tall — relies on speed in close quarters.
Recent result: Lost to Thanat Pothisakul in the Suratthani final. Thanat beat him 2-0 with front-leg kicks at distance — this is the blueprint.
🎬 Video Resources
📺 SURATTHANI TKD 2026 — FULL MATCH FOOTAGE
COURT 4 — 13th Suratthani TKD Championship 2026 (8 hrs 40 min livestream, streamed 4 days ago). This is where Pakonkerd fought and won SILVER. All 65kg+ matches were on this court. Timestamps unknown, but you can scrub through — Pakonkerd's matches will be in the first 2-3 hours.
📺 GMAC STUDIO YOUTUBE CHANNEL
The official GMAC broadcast channel has ALL tournament footage:
🔗 youtube.com/@GMACstudio (16.5K subscribers, 1,700+ videos)
📱 RUJI DOJANG SOCIAL MEDIA
🇹🇭 RUJI Taekwondo Nimitmai (Bangkok) — 19+ years of TKD teaching
• Instagram:@ruj111.anirut (1,497 followers, 672 posts — RUJI team content)
• Facebook:RUJI Taekwondo Nimitmai (827 likes)
• Pakonkerd Instagram:@p.runghirun
🔍 Search tip: Try searching "RUJI TEAM taekwondo" on YouTube — their dojang may post fight highlights:
YouTube Search Results
💡 SCOUTING TIP: Search "Pakonkerd Runghirun" or "RUJI TEAM" on the Suratthani video timeline. Look for a fighter wearing RUJI's colors (likely white/blue hogu) — he's a close-range brawler. Study how Thanat beat him with FRONT LEG KICKS at distance. That's YOUR blueprint.
🎯 Arham's Gameplan vs Pakonkerd
✅ DO THIS: Keep the fight at LONG RANGE. You are bigger and your reach is your weapon. Use front-leg side kicks to keep him OUTSIDE — don't let him close the distance.
❌ DON'T: Do NOT brawl or trade in close range. This is his game. If he gets inside, pivot out immediately — don't get drawn into a pocket fight.
✅ IF Arham wins → Faces Channarong Butwong in Semifinal
⚠️ IF Arham loses → Consolation Bronze match vs SF2 loser
🎬 Technique Arsenal for this Fight
👊 PRIMARYFront-leg side kick — Your best weapon. Step back, keep the front leg alive. The moment he tries to enter, pop the kick. This is EXACTLY how Thanat beat him.🔄 COUNTERCut kick (Naeryo Chagi) — When he ducks under your side kick to rush in, step back and swing a downward cut kick to his head/face.🛡️ DEFENSEPivot + Roundhouse — If he closes distance, pivot on your front foot 180° and deliver a rear-leg roundhouse as you escape. Score and exit.👊 TACTIC2-kick combo — Front-leg push kick → step in → rear-leg body roundhouse. Pakonkerd has shown weakness against fighters who chain kicks (Thanat beat him with exactly this).
🔄 Decision Tree: Round 1
🤼 ROUND 1 — Feeling Each Other Out
Coach's corner: First 30 seconds — DON'T rush. Let Pakonkerd probe. Establish the front-leg kick early. If he retreats, you know the distance game is working. If he charges through, pivot and counter.
💀 IF Pakonkerd closes distance:
PIVOT RIGHT → REAR HOOK KICK. He commits forward → you spin out → score to the body. Then immediately reset to long range.
🎯 IF Pakonkerd stays on the outside:
YOU control the distance. Fake → step back → watch him over-commit → counter roundhouse. He'll get frustrated and rush — that's when you score.
🥇 IF Arham scores early (2-0 up):
DON'T get comfortable. Pakonkerd is aggressive when behind. Stay disciplined on distance. One more clean combo seals it. Gam-jeon (defensive attitude) to run clock.
Channarong is the #1 SEED — but critically, he earned Bronze (not Gold) at the same RSR Pattaya tournament where Thanat won Gold. He also competes in a lighter weight class (45-48kg) where he won Silver — this is NOT his natural weight class at 65kg+!
Key insight: He fights at two weights. At 65kg+, he's fighting UP. He relies on Taweesilp's signature front-leg kick game but doesn't have Thanat's power or precision at this weight.
Style: Same dojang as Thanat (Master KHEM's Taweesilp system) — front-leg push kicks, fast double kicks, tries to dictate range with the lead leg.
Instagram/Facebook: channarong.butwong
🎯 Arham's Gameplan vs Channarong
✅ DO THIS: Beat him at HIS OWN GAME. Channarong's front-leg kick is decent but NOT as sharp as Thanat's. If you can land YOUR front-leg kicks faster and more consistently, you break his confidence. He won't expect a Pakistani to out-kick him.
💡 KEY INSIGHT: Channarong won BRONZE at 65kg+ but won SILVER at 45-48kg. His best weight is LOWER. At 65kg+, he's slower, less powerful, and not as comfortable. Use your weight advantage. Body shots will hurt him more than they'd hurt a natural 65kg fighter.
❌ DON'T: Don't let him set the rhythm. Taweesilp fighters (Channarong & Thanat) love a slow, methodical fight where they control pace with the lead leg. Break his rhythm — sudden blitzes, level changes, fake-high-kick-low-kick combos.
🎬 Technique Arsenal for this Fight
👊 PRIMARYSide kick → body roundhouse (Deolryeo Chagi → Momtong Dollyeo Chagi). Feint the side kick, he'll check it, then rip the body roundhouse to his exposed side. Taweesilp fighters over-check against side kicks.🔄 COUNTERBack-step → counter roundhouse — When he throws his front-leg kick, back-step 6 inches (just out of range), let it whiff, then step in with a rear-leg roundhouse to his chest/head.🛡️ DEFENSELeg check + clinch — When he kicks, check with your shin, then immediately close and clinch. Body blow him hard in the clinch — he's lighter, it will sap his stamina.👊 SECRET WEAPONSpin hook kick — Channarong won't expect it. After 2-3 front-leg exchanges, fake the front-leg kick and spin into a hook kick to the head. Surprise element.
🔄 Decision Tree: Semifinal
🤼 OPENING — Establish the front leg early
Coach's corner: "Arham — YOUR front leg is faster. Show him in the first exchange. Kick him immediately and SEE his reaction. If he backs up, you've got him. If he charges, pivot and score."
🎯 IF Channarong tries to out-kick you:
KICK HIM FIRST, KICK HIM HARDER. This is a battle of who lands first. You need to win the first 30 seconds. Be aggressive — catch him cold. His confidence drops when he gets kicked first.
💀 IF Channarong switches to close-range (plan B):
Excellent — this means you've already beaten his kicking game! Now he's uncomfortable. Counter his rushed entries with spinning kicks. He's not a natural in-fighter at 65kg+.
🥇 IF you win → GOLD FINAL vs Thanat or Supakorn
STAY IN THE ZONE. Biggest fight of your life coming. Hydrate. Breathe. Listen to Coach between rounds. Don't celebrate yet.
⚔️ GOLD FINAL — Thanat OR Supakorn
Option A: vs Thanat Pothisakul (Seed #2) — MOST LIKELY
Seed #2🇹🇭 Taweesilp A🥇🥇 2× Champion (this class)
⚠️ THE FINAL BOSS
Thanat is the reigning champion — Gold at RSR Pattaya + Gold at Suratthani, BOTH in Arham's exact weight class. He's the most dangerous fighter in the bracket. But he's ALSO young, ALSO a debutant from a previous age class, and he's NEVER fought a Pakistani before.
✅ Arham's Gameplan vs Thanat: Don't try to out-Technique him. He's technically excellent. Instead: be unpredictable. Thanat studies opponents. If you show him patterns, he'll read you. Change stances. Switch between orthodox and southpaw. Mix in spinning attacks. Make him think.
💡 CRITICAL INSIGHT: Neither Thanat nor Channarong has fought a left-handed/southpaw opponent on GMAC. If Arham switches stances frequently, it neutralizes Thanat's front-leg kick timing. PRACTICE THIS IN WARMUPS — switch stance, land the lead roundhouse from southpaw.
❌ DON'T: Don't trade double-kicks with him. Taweesilp fighters specialize in rapid two-kick combos (front leg → back leg). If you try to match them, you'll lose the exchange. INSTEAD: one powerful kick → move. Reset. Repeat.
Option B: vs Supakorn Chokkrongsamoot (Seed #3)
Seed #3🇹🇭 RSR Taekwondo Team A🥈🥈 2× Silver in this class
🎯 Easier Final Option
Supakorn has lost 2 FINALS in this exact class (RSR Pattaya + 6th Pattaya Open). He's the "perennial silver medalist" — which means he CHOKES under pressure. If Arham reaches the final against Supakorn, Supakorn will be MORE nervous than Arham.
✅ vs Supakorn: Supakorn is a counter-attacker (RSR system — defensive patience). He wants you to attack so he can counter. DON'T over-commit. Use feints to draw his counter, then counter-HIS counter. Show → step back → wait for his kick → blast the body.
🧠 Mental edge: "He's lost 2 finals. He KNOWS he's second-best. You walk in there believing you're the champion already. One minute of pressure and he'll crumble like he did at RSR Pattaya."
👨🏫 Coach's Corner — What to Tell Arham
📋 Between Rounds — Coach Script
After Round 1 (if winning):
"Perfect. You're controlling distance. He can't touch you. Keep the front leg alive. One more round like that — don't get fancy, don't get cocky. Distance distance distance."
After Round 1 (if losing/close):
"Relax. You're rushing. Breathe. You're reaching instead of sitting on your kicks. Plant your feet — kick from the ground up. Let him come to you. You're faster than him. Trust your speed."
After Round 2 (any score):
"FINAL ROUND. Leave everything on the mat. No regrets. This is YOUR moment. Pakistan is watching. Your father is watching. Don't leave thinking 'what if' — empty the tank."
🎯 Pre-Fight Warm-Up (Coach)
45 minutes before match — start this routine:
Light jogging + arm swings (3 min)
Stretch: hamstrings, quads, groin, hips (5 min)
Shadow boxing — focus on FRONT LEG KICKS (3 min)
Pad work — 2-kick combos (front leg → roundhouse) (5 min)
Partner drill: one person rushes, the other pivots + counters (3 min)
Switch stance practice — 5 kicks from southpaw (2 min)
BREATHE. Close eyes. Visualize winning. (2 min)
Music — Arham's pump-up playlist (until called)
⚠️ Coach: Watch for These in Real-Time
👀 WATCHArham dropping his hands when tired — remind him "HANDS UP" between exchanges📣 SHOUT"FRONT LEG! FRONT LEG!" — If you see Arham neglecting distance control, yell this🛡️ FIXArham hopping instead of stepping — if he's hopping on one leg, tell him "SIT DOWN, PLANT, KICK"💪 ENCOURAGEAfter any scoring kick — "GOOD! AGAIN!" Confidence is everything for a 14-year-old
🧠 Mental Preparation — For Arham
"Son, listen to me. You've trained for this. You just won GOLD in Singapore 5 days ago. You're on a hot streak. These Thai fighters have never seen YOU before — they don't know your style, your speed, your power. You're the WILD CARD. Use it."
"Remember: the front-leg kick is YOUR weapon. You've been practicing it for months. Pakonkerd lost to Thanat with exactly that. Channarong isn't as good at 65kg+. Thanat has never fought a southpaw. EVERY advantage is YOURS."
"Win or lose, I'm proud of you. But I want you to look back on this day and know you gave EVERYTHING. No regrets. Empty the tank. Leave it all on that mat."
*Times are approximate. Arrive EARLY. Know your Hogu #. Watch other fighters in your bracket to study.
🥉 Bonus: Bronze Match Strategy
If Arham loses in the semifinal, he fights the other semifinal loser for Bronze. This will likely be Abhay Dahiya (India) or possibly Pakonkerd/Pakonkerd's opponent.
Mental note: "A bronze medal at 14 years old at an international tournament is HUGE. But don't settle for bronze — you came for gold. If you're in the bronze match, USE the disappointment as fuel. Destroy whoever you face. Take bronze and walk away knowing you'll come back for gold."
Likely bronze opponent: Abhay Dahiya 🇮🇳 — No GMAC history, international debut like Arham. If this happens: PUT HIM AWAY EARLY. Apply pressure, score in the first 30 seconds, never let up.