Abdul Karim (fourth right) receives the tournament VIP jersey from Kee (fourth left) while Snowdan (third left) and Matthew (third right) shows off the coveted sledgehammer trophies. Also seen are Teng (second left), Ong (second right) and Zil (left). — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Armwrestling fans are in for a vein-bulging, forehead-sweating treat this Jan 19 and 20 as around 500 armwrestlers from over 20 countries compete in the 3rd International Charity Armwrestling Championship at Premier 101 Commercial Centre along Jalan Tun Jugah here next weekend.
Organised by the Sarawak Armsport Association (Sasa) and Premier 101 Community Club with support from Malaysia Armsport Association (MyArms) and Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, the annual event is expected to be a grand affair as these armwrestlers will no doubt have the audience gritting their teeth while cheering on their favourite armwrestler.
“There are going to be around 200 international armwrestlers from countries such as the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, China, Taiwan, Japan, Russia, Kazakhastan, Vietnam, Brunei, India, Nigeria, Korea, Belarus, Indonesia, Ukraine, Turkey, Italy and the Philippines competing during the two-day event.
“In addition, we will also see more than 300 arm wrestlers representing our country during the championship of which around 70 are from Sarawak,” Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah told a press conference at his office in Baitulmakmur Building here yesterday.
He also mentioned the highly anticipated appearance of world armwrestling champion Devon Larratt from Canada.
“The fact that the world champion is here reflects how important the 3rd International Charity Armwrestling Championship is,” he said, adding that Larratt will also serve as an ambassador in promoting the state to armwrestlers and sport enthusiasts from around the world.
A total of RM31,300 cash prizes will be up for grabs during the tournament which features seven men’s categories (Right 85kg Above, Right 75-85kg, Right 75kg Below, Left 80kg Above, Left 80kg Below, Right Amateur 75kg Above, Right Amateur 75kg Below) and the Women’s Right Open.
Each category champion will also receive a bronze sledgehammer (a replica of superhero Thor’s mighty hammer) while the ‘champion of champions’ will be awarded a gold mallet.
“I hope that arm wrestling fans in Sarawak will turn up in throngs to witness the battle of arms among the armwrestlers
in a championship which we rarely get to witness here in the state,” added Abdul Karim, who will officiate the opening ceremony on Jan 19.
Also present during the press conference were Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Sasa president Matthew Dominic Barin, Sasa advisor Dato Sri Teng Chi Lik, event organising chairman Stephen Kee, Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee and MyArms deputy president Mohd Zil Fadli Abdul Halim.