Arunachal Pradesh Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) star Sonam Zomba made history by becoming the first-ever Karma Fight League (KFL) world strawweight champion. She achieved this feat by defeating Chathuri Siriwardana of Sri Lanka via unanimous decision in a K-1 kickboxing bout held at the Sri Lanka Exhibition & Convention Centre in Colombo, Sri Lanka on July 18.
Zomba’s victory came in the inaugural KFL World Strawweight Championship, where she headlined the main event. Her strong and composed performance secured the win, adding to her recent success in the sport. Notably, Zomba had earlier defended her Matrix Fight Night (MFN) strawweight world title this year.
Interestingly, the initial matchup for the KFL championship was announced as Zomba versus Pakistan’s Bushra Akhtar. However, the actual bout took place against the Sri Lankan fighter, Chathuri Siriwardana. Zomba, who hails from Tawang and fights out of Bidang MMA, boasts a strong professional MMA record of around 8-1. This kickboxing title win showcases her versatility as a fighter.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu congratulated Zomba on her stellar performance, terming her ‘Bharat ki beti’ (India’s daughter) in a congratulatory message. Khandu praised Zomba’s determination and winning spirit, saying, ‘She went in, fought hard, and came out with the title belt, defeating Sri Lanka’s Chathuri Siriwardana. That’s what winners do.’ He also wished Zomba more victories in the future.
