By Normimie Diun
KOTA KINABALU: Arm wrestling, a sport long embedded in Sabah’s cultural traditions, particularly during the annual Kaamatan Festival, has reached a new milestone after making its mark on the international stage through the hosting of a world-class tournament for the first time in Malaysia.
The two-day championship, held from June 20 to 21, 2026 at Palm Square, Centre Point, brought together two of the world’s most prestigious arm wrestling brands, King of the Table and East vs West, with Sabah becoming the first location in Malaysia to host the internationally acclaimed event.
Tournament organiser Michael Ford said the championship demonstrated that arm wrestling is no longer merely a traditional pastime associated with local cultural celebrations, but has evolved into a professional sport with a growing global following.
According to him, the event was organised in collaboration with Sabah Tourism as part of efforts to strengthen sports tourism and introduce Sabah to the international arm wrestling community.
“Many people know arm wrestling as a traditional sport commonly played during the Kaamatan Festival, but today we have successfully brought some of the world’s best athletes to Sabah.
“This is more than just a competition. It is a platform to show that Sabah is capable of hosting international-level sporting events,” he told Sabah Media during the tournament on Saturday.
The championship attracted competitors from Taiwan, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Brunei, South Korea, China, Sweden, Russia and Peninsular Malaysia.
Some participants even travelled by road from Kuching to take part, highlighting the event’s strong appeal among athletes and enthusiasts.
Ford said the response exceeded expectations, with more than 200 athletes competing across various categories throughout the tournament.
In addition to the amateur division, the event featured women’s, Masters and professional categories, while the main attraction saw 24 elite athletes from across Asia and beyond competing in one-on-one super matches.
“What makes this event special is that many of the international competitors are national champions or among the top-ranked arm wrestlers in their respective countries. They came to Sabah to challenge the best athletes in the region,” he said.
Behind the success of the tournament, Ford himself is one of Sabah’s most accomplished arm wrestlers who has helped raise Malaysia’s profile on the international stage.
The 37-year-old athlete has been involved in arm wrestling for more than 15 years and has focused seriously on international competition over the past three years.
Among his greatest achievements was winning the prestigious Arnold Classic 2025 in the United States in the super heavyweight division. He also secured a major victory in Canada, further cementing his reputation in the sport.
As part of his efforts to promote Sabah arm wrestling globally, Ford has actively competed in international tournaments in the United States, Canada, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Türkiye.
He said the rapid growth of arm wrestling in recent years has been driven largely by social media, which has introduced the sport to millions of viewers around the world.
“Before the COVID-19 pandemic, arm wrestling had a relatively niche following. Today, the sport has grown significantly through major professional events held across different countries,” he said.
The presence of world-renowned Canadian arm wrestling legend Devon Larratt was another major highlight of the championship.
Ford noted that Larratt’s appearance generated a significant economic impact, with fans and participants travelling from overseas to Kota Kinabalu specifically for the event.
“We have seen hotels receiving bookings, local businesses benefiting and visitors coming to Sabah because of this tournament.
“This is the power of sports tourism. When a world-class event is hosted in Sabah, the benefits extend beyond sports and contribute directly to the local economy,” he said.
Ford hopes the tournament will become an annual fixture, with organisers targeting between 300 and 400 participants next year.
He believes a larger event in the future will strengthen Sabah’s position as a leading arm wrestling hub in Southeast Asia.
“We want Sabah to be known not only for its natural beauty, but also as a premier destination for international arm wrestling competitions.
“This is an important step in bringing a traditional sport that has been passed down through generations onto the world stage,” he said.
