World’s best pullers visit SMK Batu Lintang
KUCHING: SMK Batu Lintang savoured a historic moment yesterday when the world’s top eight pullers paid a visit to the school to conduct a demonstration.
The eight top pullers are in town to compete in the first series of the Vendetta Top 8 at Pullman Hotel this Friday at 7pm.
They are Rustam Babayev and Evgeny Prudnik from Ukraine, Vitali Laletin ( Russia), Dimitry Trubin ( Kazakhstan), Genadi Kvikvinia and Levan Saginashvili (Georgia), Alex Kurdecha (Poland) and Tim Bresnan ( USA).
“You are the first school not only in Malaysia but also in Asia that the world top eight pullers are visiting,” Malaysia Armwrestling Federation president Mohd Zil Fadli pointed out.
The more than 500 students who attended the demonstration at the school hall went into a frenzy at the arrival of the eight pullers who were accompanied by PAL president Igor Mazurenko, PAL communications and promotions manager Kirill Yakovlev, Zil Fadli, MyArm deputy president Stephen Kee and world champion from Canada Devon Laratt who is visiting the school for the second time.
To cheers and applause, the professional pullers engaged in friendly bouts with the school principal Bahtiar Afandi and some students who were presented with posters.
They also took some time to mingle with the students, teachers and take photographs together.
“This is the second time that such a demonstration was held in our school. Last year there was only one international puller Devon Laratt but this time we had eight!
“The students and teachers were excited and thrilled with their visit and I wish to thank Premier 101 Armwrestling Club deputy president Stephen Kee for arranging this demonstration,” said Bahtiar.
“This is one of the less expensive sports because you don’t need much equipment or instruments and you have to be very fit.
“It is also a good avenue for students improve their well-being and their discipline,” he added.
He was pleased to note that Abigail Kee was one of the outstanding athletes in this sport, having won many tournaments locally and at the national level.
Meanwhile, Stephen Kee said eight pullers will be next visiting Sarawak Sports School SMK Tabuan Jaya today.
“We may go to other schools to do similar demonstration,” he said.