Kuching to host historic armwrestling meet
KUCHING: Armwrestling fans in Malaysia and Sarawak in particular will get the golden opportunity to watch the world’s top eight pullers live in action come Apr 5 when the first series of the “Vendetta Top 8” armwrestling competition will held at Hotel Pullman Kuching.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he was happy to note that such a professional event is held for the first time in Asia and Sarawak was chosen to be the host.
“This is a very good event as it will make Kuching and Sarawak known to the world because the competition will be streamed live to audiences all around the world.
Kuching will be making history because this is the first time that one of the series of the professional armwrestling league is held in Malaysia and in Asia.
“The finale of the Vendetta Top 8 will be held in Warsaw, Poland with the total prize money of Euro$120,000 (RM600,000),” he told reporters at the press conference yesterday.
The top eight ranked pullers include Rustam Babayev, Evgeny Prudink, Denis Tsyplenkov, Dmi try T rub in, Gena di Kvikvinia, Alex Kurdecha, Ievan Saginashvili and Tim Bresnan.
According to the minister, the organisers are targeting more than 500 participants for the 4th Premier 101 International Charity Armwrest ling Competition which is organised along with the Vendetta Top 8 at another venue, the Premier 101 Commercial Centre on Apr 6.
The par ticipants wi l l be accompanied by their family members, friends and supporters and their presence in Sarawak will help to boost tourism in the state and promote Kuching as a tourist destination to the world.
It was understood that currently, about 300 participants from 30 countries will be coming for the 4th Premier 101 International Charity Armwrestling Competition.
Among the countries include Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Uzbekistan, Canada, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Syria, Philippines, Belarus, Sweden, Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, New Zealand, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Japan, South Korea,
India and Malaysia. Karim was also pleased to note that armwrestling is fast gaining popularity in Sarawak through the initiative taken by Premier 101 Arm wrestling Club led by its president Dato Sri Teng Chi Lik and deputy president Stephen Kee Chu Kiong.
“In three years time, armwrestling in Sarawak is known to the world and that shows the commitment by the organiser of the Premier 101 International Charity Arm wrestling Competition. “This year they have also succeeded in bringing the Vendetta Top 8 championship to Sarawak with the support from my Ministry,” added Karim.
Also present were Permanent Secretary to Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Hii Chang Kee, Premier 101 Arm wrestling Club president Dato Sri Teng Chi Lik, deputy president Stephen Kee Chu Kiong, Professional Armwrest ling League ( PAL) president cum European Arm wrestling Federation president and founder Igor Mazurenko, PAL marketing and communications manager Kieill Yakovlev and Malaysian Arm wrestling Federation president Mohd Zil Fadli.
This is a very good event as it will make Kuching and Sarawak known to the world because the competition will be streamed live to audiences all around the world.
Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports