Be open to opportunities: Combat sport athlete Nazri Sutari on trying new sports

Photo credit: Straits Times.

Nazri throwing a punch.

Spending years — even decades — competing in one sport in a bid to perfect their technique, is a common backstory for many athletes. Nazri may be an anomaly as he has competed in not just one, but multiple sports like Fencing, Muay Thai, MMA, Sambo and Kickboxing.

While he bagged a Gold medal in Sambo at the 2019 SEA Games and represented Singapore as the sole Kickboxer at the 2022 SEA Games, Nazri actually started his sporting career as a sabre fencer.

He discovered fencing in secondary school, and it wasn’t long before he emerged as the National Cadet (Under 17) Champion. This earned him a spot on Singapore’s National Team and allowed him to take part in regional competitions, with the SEA Games being his penultimate dream.

That dream proved beyond reach as he retired from the sport altogether during National Service. “After retiring from fencing, I had given up the idea of being a national athlete and representing Singapore at the SEA Games” he shared.

But as this door closed, another opened for Nazri.

Beginner’s luck or love at first sight?

Nazri chanced upon Muay Thai when studying at Singapore Polytechnic, where he signed up for the Inter-Varsity Polytechnic competition on a whim. There, he emerged victorious. While some might chalk it up to beginner’s luck, Nazri explains it was actually “fencing’s footwork, linear attacks, and (sense of) timing” that helped him to win. The win helped him realise that swapping his blade for a pair of gloves would be his path forward.

3 years after picking up a pair of gloves, Nazri ventured into MMA (mixed martial arts) when his coach offered the opportunity. “I wanted to give it a try for fun!” He adds with a smile. His debut win sealed his commitment to the sport, racking up 6 wins out of 10 fights.

In tandem with his MMA stint, he dabbled in wrestling to complement his grappling game. Nazri quickly realised that being “a short, stocky guy with explosive movements” has its advantages, helping propel his wrestling career, which is evident from his National Champion titles and South East Asian medals.

Nazri shares that exposure to various combat sports rules has not only allowed him to develop new skill sets, but also encouraged him to “think outside of the box” — qualities that he can bring to his overall game.

Kicking high with kickboxing

All athletes learn to overcome major challenges in their careers and Nazri is no different.

Nazri’s foray into kickboxing started in 2019, after becoming the national champion during a competition organized by the Kickboxing Federation of Singapore (KFS). Nazri recounts how it was challenging to find good coaches and training partners, and this led him to Europe to find training and competition opportunities.

Photo credit: Kickboxing Federation of Singapore.

Nazri training with Coach Aleksander in Serbia.

Some call it luck, some call it fate, but Nazri was fortunate enough to be acquainted with Aleksandar Topic, a world-renowned coach from Serbia who has trained multiple world champions. The duo would go on to blaze the trail for Singapore on a global stage both in and out of the ring. Nazri has also recently bagged the silver medal at WAKO (World Association of Kickboxing Organizations)’s Sarajevo European Cup held earlier this month.

Photo credit: Kickboxing Federation of Singapore.

Nazri at the WAKO Sarajevo European Cup 2023.

To make sure he trains with the best and to make up for the lack of suitable kickboxing training partners, Nazri trains regularly with Singapore’s National Silat and Muay Thai teams. Although he added that each sport has distinct rulesets, training with the Muay Thai team has been beneficial for technical development as its ruleset bears similarities to WAKO’s.

“Even though we compete in different sports, we all have the same energy and passion,” Nazri shared enthusiastically.

Second time’s the charm

It’s safe to say he’s achieved his dream not just once, but twice, in representing Singapore at the SEA Games.

Most importantly, this journey has allowed him to develop “an open mind and an open heart in approaching life.

He also attributed this adventurous streak to his parents, who have encouraged him to “cast a big net (in life), because you never know what you’re going to get.”

Photo credit: Kickboxing Federation of Singapore.

Nazri and coach Aleksandar preparing for departure.

As for the people who keep him going, Nazri is quick to mention his parents. “I’m grateful that my parents genuinely support what I do, even though I’ve tested their faith at times,” he muses. He shares that his parents consistently encourage him by helping him to find solutions to his problems.

“My dad also gives me suggestions and ideas about how to grow as a person — which is way better than him just saying that he’s proud of me!” Nazri adds with a grin.

Nazri will represent Singapore in kickboxing at SEA Games 2023. Let’s cheer on Nazri and his fellow TeamSG athletes!