WORLD BODY STAND BY MAD FOLKS

WDBF set the record straight in feud between two Malaysian rival associations

THE World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF) have come out to set the record straight following the tiff between the Malaysia Association of Dodgeball (MAD) and Malaysia Dodgeball Federation (MDF).

MAD are a member of WDBF, the world governing body for the foam ball version of the sport, while MDF are under the World Dodgeball Association, who governs the fabric ball version.

WDBF president Duane Wysynski, in response to a recent NSTP Sport article quoting MDF president Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsuddin, said they have expanded greatly in recent years with MAD assisting in their efforts in Asia.

“The goal is to develop and promote the sport at all levels, from grassroots to high performance, including athletes with disability,” said Wysynski yesterday.

“WDBF currently have 38 members, with another four applications in process.

“While we continue to expand around the world, WDBF have always been very strong in North America and Asia.

“Our members from the United States and Canada represent the largest groups of athletes in the sport in their nations, where foam (ball version) is far more popular than cloth.

“For many years, WDBF focused those efforts on a small amount of countries committed to developing the infrastructure necessary to promulgate the sport.

“Over the last 18 months, however, WDBF have enacted their strategy to grow the sport by assisting new nations in introducing dodgeball among youth and in schools.

“MAD have been an integral part of the development of the sport globally.

“In addition to the development of coaching training grounded in sports science, MAD have assisted in the foundation of dodgeball in Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia and Bangladesh.”

Ermieyati, reacting to critical comments from MAD president Datuk Samson Maman, had hit back hard at the rival association, claiming that the WDBF World Championships they competed in was nothing more than an invitational.

“One reason you will not yet see Tanzania or Haiti at a WDBF World Championships is because they are focusing their efforts on youth development,” said Wysynski.

“A new sport, when introduced, must learn to walk before it runs,” he added.

“To that end, the WDBF World Championships is not an invitational event. It was open to all members when our membership was small.

“But as our membership has grown exponentially, we have introduced regional championships to help new nations gain experience without thrusting them into competition that exceeds their level of development.

“We held our first African Championships early last year, and are planning events in South America and in the Caribbean next year.”

WDBF were founded in 2012 and have since hosted seven World Championships, the latest of which was held in Los Angeles in October.

The national men’s team successfully defended their title while the women’s squad came in second in the competition.