KUCHING: Organisers of the Premier 101 International Arm Wrestling Tournament 2018 held demonstrations over the weekend to promote the event.
The demonstrations at CityONE Mega Mall here received good public response and also served as registration time for participants.
Tournament organizing chairman Stephen Kee revealed that Canadian Devon Larrat, the World Arm Wrestling Champion, will be making appearances during the two-day tournament starting Jan 19.
As the Sarawak Arms Sport Association (Sasa) and Premier 101 Community Club aim to host the World Cup Arm Wrestling championship in 2019, there will also be efforts to promote the sport in schools.
“This is to ensure that the sport would have continuity and a string of arm wrestlers ready for any tournament inside and outside Sarawak,” said Kee who is also Sasa deputy president.
Larrat will also tour the city before and after the tournament with a walkabout at Semenggoh Wildlife Center, Kuching Waterfront and Darul Hana Bridge on Jan 18 and the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong on Jan 21.
The tournament will be held at Premier 101 Square, Jalan Tun Jugah here.
A seminar will be organised for Jan 18 and a referee’s course for Jan 19 at the Premier 101 Gym.
A total of RM31,300 in cash prizes will be up for grabs in the eight categories: Men 85kg and above, 75-85kg, 75kg and below,Left-handed 80kg and above, Left-handed 80 and below, Amateur 75kg and above, Amateur 75kg and below and Women Open.
Champions will also be presented with replicas of sledgehammers popularized by the Marvel Comic and movie character ‘Thor’.
Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will officiate at the opening ceremony on the evening of
Jan 19.