Anna “Supergirl” Jaroonsak returned to action at ONE Fight Night 41: Sinsamut vs.
Jarvis, but things didn’t go according to plan for the 22-year-old.
What happened after the bout caught the Lumpinee Stadium crowd by surprise.
In the moments following her atomweight Muay Thai showdown against Hong Kong’s Yu Yau Pui, “Supergirl” laid her ONE Championship gloves down at the center of the ring and announced her retirement from professional competition.
While it came as a shock to many, that decision had been quietly forming for years.
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Rather than express frustration or regret, Jaroonsak spoke with clarity about why she chose to walk away from the sport that had defined her life since childhood.
She tearfully addressed the media in a backstage scrum after the event:
“A lot of people might be confused why I’m retiring so suddenly, but honestly, I’ve been thinking about this for eight years.“Even before I joined ONE, I wanted to quit.
It’s hard to talk about without getting emotional, but there’s a lot more to it than people see.”
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Long before she became one of the most recognizable young strikers in the world’s largest martial arts organization, Jaroonsak’s journey began at just three years old under the guidance of her father.
By 16, she had already amassed more than 40 Muay Thai bouts.
When Jaroonsak made her ONE debut, she did so as one of the youngest athletes to ever compete on the global stage.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in September 2020, she stepped into the spotlight with a stunning 60-second knockout of Milagros Lopez at ONE: A New Breed II, with a performance that instantly established her as a young talent to watch out for.
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From that moment on, “Supergirl” began building a resume filled with memorable performances, including two other standout victories on the global stage, and a closely contested kickboxing battle with former three-sport queen Stamp Fairtex that showed she could compete at the highest level.
Her height, composure, and signature spearing knees quickly set “Supergirl” apart.
But behind the rise of a teenage star was a deeply personal story she had kept hidden from public view.
The Supergirl Jaroonsak Gym representative revealed:
“I’ve been training since I was three.
Back then, it was a family thing.
My mom and dad were always there.
“But when they split up, I was just a kid and didn’t understand.
I never told anyone, but I kept fighting because I thought if I stayed in the ring, it would give them a reason to be together.
I endured it all just to see them proud and together at my gym.
That was my happiness.”
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As Jaroonsak grew older, that hope and belief began to fade, and with it, the sense of purpose that had driven her through years of competition.
In the end, stepping away became less about the result of one fight and more about staying true to herself.
The 22-year-old said:
“As I grew up, I realized it was selfish of me to try and force them to stay together like that.
Once I accepted that, I lost my sense of purpose.
“I’m retiring now because I don’t want to show a version of ‘Supergirl’ that isn’t really me.
I want people to remember the happy, smiling, dancing girl from my first ONE fight.”
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Supergirl Looks Ahead To Life Beyond Fighting
In recent years, Anna “Supergirl” Jaroonsak’s life has evolved beyond the four corners of the ring.
While she admitted that the pressures of elite competition and public life have not always been easy, the 22-year-old Thai now views her decision to step away from the limelight as an opportunity to rediscover herself outside of Muay Thai.
“I’ve never told the media this because I didn’t want anyone to know what I was going through.
These past two to three years have been a challenge for me.
“But I’ve learned a lot about myself, and I know now what I really want moving forward.”
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That clarity shaped how she approached her final appearance at ONE Fight Night 41 this past Saturday, March 14.
Rather than focusing solely on the outcome of her fight, Jaroonsak embraced the moment and took it all in as she stepped into the ONE ring for the last time.
She added:
“I’m not sad about this loss.
For the past two years, I wasn’t even training.
I was just working.
Coming back and getting fit again was a win for me.
I held my ground, I traded shots, but I got caught in the ribs and it just took the wind out of me.
“As I stood in the ring today, I tried to soak in every moment, every face, the referee.
I wanted to remember it all.
I’m at peace with how it ended.”
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Now, Jaroonsak’s focus shifts toward a new chapter in her life centered on purpose, balance, and giving back.
Since entering ONE, Supergirl has also built a life outside of competition, including opening her own gym in Phuket.
“Thank you so much to everyone who supported me, even when you didn’t know what I was going through.
Please remember me as the girl I was when I was 16 or 18.
That was the real ‘Supergirl.’ As for the fighters at my gym, keep fighting for me.
Carry that torch.”
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Source: This article was originally published by Yahoo Sports
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