- George Chung
- Oct 14, 2024
- 2 min read
Takeru Segawa notched his first win in ONE Championship at ONE Friday Fights 81 with a spectacular showing against Myanmar's Thant Zin.
"The Natural Born Crusher" was knocked down in the first round of his match against the 19-year-old but rebounded and finished Zin in the second frame. After the match, Takeru praised his opponent's skill set.
But Takeru was even more of a winner outside of the ring. Following his victory against Zin, Takeru donated some of his purse to flood relief in Myanmar.
The Japanese superstar wrote on Instagram that martial arts has this kind of power and showed it through his generous donation.
Zin's manager, Phyo Wai, shared his thoughts on the star's generosity on his social media (h/t Bangkok Post).
"We are deeply grateful and honored for Takeru's commitment to contribute as much as he can," Wai wrote.
"The donations made by Takeru will be coordinated with the relevant organizations and committees, with continued support from our Myawaddy native, Saw Phyo Wai.
"On behalf of the entire people of Myanmar, we sincerely appreciate and respect Takeru for his kindness."
Heavy monsoon rains flooded much of Myanmar, affecting an estimated 1 million people. Takeru's charitable donation will assist in the efforts to rebuild following the disaster.
Myanmar fans showed their heartfelt thanks for the flyweight contender's donation, with many throwing their support behind Takeru for his possible future contest against Rodtang Jitmuangnon.
While that super-fight has no official announcement yet, it is already capturing the imagination of fans around the world. Now, the 33-year-old has a new core group of fans that will stand behind him when he gets the chance to take on "The Iron Man."
The flyweight striker wants to continue being a beacon of positivity within the martial arts space. Takeru's donation is a heartwarming display of those true values, allowing him to lead by example.
