Har Ling Om Carries Lethwei Roots Into Biggest Test Against Nadaka
Har Ling Om did not stumble into martial arts by accident, and everything about his path to Saturday, September 12, traces back to a sport that shows no mercy for the unprepared.
The 28-year-old Myanmarese striker headlines ONE SAMURAI 3 against reigning ONE Atomweight Muay Thai World Champion Nadaka in an atomweight kickboxing clash, broadcasting live from Yokohama Buntai in Yokohama, Japan.
He began competing in Lethwei at just 15 years old, chasing the example set by two of his country’s most celebrated fighters.
“Martial arts is in my blood. That’s why I chose this career. I started fighting in Lethwei because I watched matches by our country’s legends, like Tway Ma Shaung and Sayar Saw Nga Man,” he said. “I admired them, and that inspired me to start fighting in Lethwei.”
It was ONE Hall of Famer Aung La N Sang, though, who ultimately pointed him toward the global stage.
“Ko Aung La is one of the fighters I admire very much at ONE. He is famous globally. I will try to become like him one day,” he said. “I saw other Myanmarese fighters competing in ONE. They earn a lot of bonuses, and that motivated me to compete in ONE.”
Wins over Haruyuki Tanitsu and Khunsuk T1 Fight Academy have shown steady progress since his arrival, and Har Ling Om now has a coveted US$100,000 main roster contract within reach.
“My goal right now is to get a contract at ONE, and I am trying my best to get one. After getting a contract, I can aim for the World Title belt,” he said.
That hunger, he believes, stems from a mentality forged by a discipline that offers no shortcuts.
“I think we can say that our mentality is very strong. Compared to fighters from other countries, Myanmar fighters possess a stronger mentality,” he said. “Once the fight begins, I must beat them. If I don’t beat him, he will beat me.”
Still, he is honest about the disadvantage that same toughness-first background creates against opponents raised entirely within scoring systems.
“Since we Myanmar fighters have always fought with our toughness, competing against fighters from other countries, who have always played under the point-based system, becomes a disadvantage for us.”
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