More overseas entries expected for armwrestling tourney

KUCHING: The Premier 101 Charity International Armwrestling Tournament 2018 slated for Jan 19 and 20 has attracted several participants from overseas.

Deputy president of MyArm Mohd Zil Fadli said those from Pakistan, India, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Russia have either confirmed or expressed their intention to participate.

“We believe few more participants from other countries will confirmed their participation in the last minute,” said Zil, who is the tournament Chief Referee.

The tournament is offering attractive cash prizes in various categories.

“A total cash prizes of RM31,300 will be up for grabs in the tournament which will set to be the most prestigious event in Malaysia if taking into account of the prizes offered,” he said in a press conference on Friday.

Also present were Sarawak Armsports Association (Sasa) advisor Datuk Seri Teng Chi Lik, its president Matthew Dominic Barin and deputy president Stephen Kee.

Premier 101 Community Club and Sasa will co-organised the 2018 tournament.

At the press conference, San Chin-BBC JV managing director Lee Chin Teck, who developed Gala City, handed over a sponsorship of RM15,000 to the organising committee.

The tournament will also feature Canadian World Armwrestling champion Devon ‘No Limits’ Larrat and is expected to attract large crowd to the event.

According to Kee, the Premier 101 Charity tournaments in 2017 and 2018 are preludes to the proposed World Cup Armwrestling Tournament 2019 and he hoped that the state government and major private corporations would give their full support to the event.

Kee said the World Cup Armwrestling 2019 would be both labour and capital-intensive but the returns in term of dollar and cent in sports, health, hospitality and hotels and eco tourism sector as far as the state is concerned would be very good, he explained.

Kee also hoped Sarawak would produce armwrestling champions not only in the World Cup but also the subsequent Olympic Games.

“Therefore this is the reason for the state to develop the sport and make Sarawak a powerhouse,” he said.

Lee (second back row, third right) with Mohd Zil (fourth right) with members of Sasa including Matthew and Kee at the 101 Gym after the sponsorship presentation.

(From left) Nur Syazwani Marais, Ruhana Bujang, Jimmy Siang and Dunstan Lim of PBA Ace squaring off with Patrick Naga, Kassuma Taiwan, Azumi Ahman Zaini and Ismail Johree of Hardcore.

Matthew witnessing a training match between two registered participants Abigail Kee and Tracie Hughes.