Over 500 in charity armwrestling championship
World champion Devon ‘No Limits’ Larratt wants sport to grow across the globe
KUCHING: World armwrestling champion Devon “No Limits” Larratt wants to see the sport of armwrestling growing in Sarawak and the world.
The 42-year- old professional arm wrestler from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada f lew into Kuching yesterday morning to a warm reception from the representatives of the Sarawak Arm Sports Association (Sasa).
The retired soldier is here as an ambassador of the sport at the invitation of Sasa and he will also be a guest at the 3rd International Charity Arm wrestling Championship at Premier 101 Commercial Centre from today until Sunday.
More than 500 pullers from over 20 countries are expected to compete in the championship organised by Premier 101 Community Association and Sasa and supported by the state government.
This is Larratt’s first trip to Sarawak and South- east Asia to experience the Malaysian culture and armwrestling.
“I am here to be part of the annual event organised by Sasa and the Premier 101 Community Association, and I will also be doing seminars on armwrestling,” Larratt told reporters after a photo- shoot session at Sasa gym yesterday.
Larratt’s interest in armwrestling started at the age of six and participated in his first competition when he was 18.
I want to see more exchange between cultures through the sport and larger level of organisation and larger grass roots supporting more people and the sport getting into schools. Devon ‘No Limits’ Larratt, Canadian professional armwrestler
In his professional armwrestling career of 25 years, Larratt said it hasn’t been a day without thinking of armwrestling for him.
“I have made mistakes and if I can share my experience and help arm wrestlers to fast forward their careers, that would make me very happy to be part of that.
“My best achievement is becoming one of the first people in modern history to be recognised as a number one Right and Left Open weight armwrestler at the same time,” said Larratt who normally competes in the 90-102kg category.
“I want to see the sport grow and become more successful on a global scale. I want to see more exchange between cultures through the sport and larger level of organisation and larger grass roots supporting more people and the sport getting into schools.
“I think armwrestling is really a great sport and it is a relatively safe sport . You don’ t have concussions or spinal injuries like in a fight sports. One do get hurt in competitions but it is not major,” he added.
Stil l an active competitor, Larratt won the world title last year and vows to defend it this year.
Meanwhile, among the foreign competitors who arrived yesterday was 56- year old grandmaster Murray Mckay from Perth, Western Australia. It is also the first time for the pro Left armwrestler who is regarded as the hot favourite to win the Men’s 85kg and Above title in Kuching.
The pullers from Sabah are also in town, with 16 representatives from the Sabah Armwrestling Association ( Sawa) led by its deputy president and captain Jolly Johnson and four other individuals.
“We are targeting for Joffey Jolly to win the Right and Left 75kg and Below categories and this is the first time we have the most number of pullers from Sabah in this event. Last year, Joffey and three others competed here and it will be good exposure for the other members of the team,” the 46-year noted.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has been invited to open the event tonight while Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Prof Dr Sim Kui Hian will grace the closing ceremony tomorrow.