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.

By Normimie Diun

KOTA KINABALU: World-renowned arm wrestling legend Devon Larratt believes young people will play a crucial role in shaping the future of the sport and has called on more Malaysian youths, particularly in Sabah, to embrace arm wrestling as a platform for developing discipline, mental resilience and positive community connections.

The former Canadian serviceman, who continues to compete at the highest level of the sport at the age of 51, said the rapid growth of arm wrestling worldwide demonstrates its immense potential to attract younger generations.

According to Larratt, youth participation in arm wrestling is not only about producing elite athletes but also about nurturing confident, healthy and resilient individuals.

“I see more and more young people getting involved in arm wrestling, and the sport is growing at an incredible pace. More youths should be given the opportunity to discover this sport through schools, clubs and consistently organised competitions.

“The more young people we can involve, the stronger the community becomes. Arm wrestling is not only about technique and physical strength; it also teaches friendship, respect and a strong sense of family,” he told Sabah Media during the East vs West International Arm Wrestling Championship at Palm Square, Centre Point, on Saturday.

Larratt, who was accompanied by his wife, Jodi Larratt, during their first visit to Sabah, also praised the warm hospitality of the local community and the enthusiasm displayed by Sabah’s arm wrestling athletes.

He said the sport’s development must begin at the grassroots level through the establishment of more clubs, training centres and structured youth development programmes.

“The most important thing is taking care of the community within the clubs. Create more activities, organise more competitions and encourage participation among school students.

“When more young people come together to train, they not only become better athletes but also build friendships that can last a lifetime,” he said.

Reflecting on his own journey in the sport, Larratt said he began arm wrestling at the age of four before entering competitive competition at 18.

He attributed his longevity in the sport, spanning more than three decades, to his passion for continuous learning and self-improvement.

“I have always believed that I can still get better. That has been my greatest motivation throughout my career.

“To young people, enjoy the sport and do not rush success. Set goals, be patient and see arm wrestling as something that can become a positive part of your life and bring many benefits,” he said.

Larratt also revealed that he still hopes to face Georgian world champion Levan Saginashvili once again, widely regarded as the best arm wrestler in the world today.

According to him, Levan has not only been the toughest opponent he has ever faced but also a major source of inspiration throughout his career.

“Levan changed my life. He raised the standard of this sport to a much higher level. I have immense respect for him and will continue chasing the benchmark he has set.

“If I were ever able to defeat him one day, it would be a very meaningful moment because he has inspired so much of my journey in this sport,” he said.

Larratt added that the healthy rivalry between elite competitors such as himself and Levan demonstrates that arm wrestling is far more than a contest of strength it is a pursuit of self-improvement and a challenge to push beyond one’s limits.

“Sport builds communities. It brings people together in a healthy and peaceful environment. Through arm wrestling, people gain strength, health, friendships and a sense of belonging.

“If the sport can provide those things to young people, then they are on the right path towards building a better future,” he said.

Larratt remains optimistic that arm wrestling will continue to grow significantly over the next decade, with youth participation serving as the primary driver of the sport’s global expansion.

He believes more countries will invest in arm wrestling development at school and community levels, creating greater opportunities for the next generation to elevate the sport to even greater heights in the years ahead.

By Mu Vitet

KOTA KINABALU: About 500 paddlers representing 15 districts will compete at the Sabah state-level table tennis championship this weekend at Maksak Hall, Likas, here.

The competition, running from May 30 to June 1, will be officiated by Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Alfred Angin.

The paddlers will compete in the men’s and women’s team events, as well as the under-10, 13, 15 and 19 categories for both boys and girls, said Sabah Table Tennis Association president Edward Chua.

“This is a big event hosted by Kota Kinabalu, who have won for three consecutive years so far. We are calling all ping pong supporters to come and watch the games,” said Edward after the presentation of team uniforms to the Kota Kinabalu team at its clubhouse at Wisma Hakka, here.

The ceremony was officiated by the Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Datuk Dr Roland Chia. The uniforms were sponsored by Kota Kinabalu Table Tennis Association (KKTTA) Advisor Datuk Chua Soon Ping.

The championship also serves as a platform to select state players for the national under-10, 12, 15 and 19 tournaments, said Edward.

“Every year we have three events to compete in, including the National Hopes, Youth, and Open Championships,” he said, adding that the national championship will be held in Penang in September 2025.

This state championship is also an opportunity to gauge the potential of players for next year’s Sabah Games, he added.

In addition, he said they will hold the Table Tennis Clubs Championship, featuring between 30 and 40 clubs from Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei, which will offer prize money of RM10,000 to the winning clubs.

On the development of table tennis, he said so far, so good, as Kota Kinabalu has about five training centres, which are enough to cater to training and development programmes.

“We run development programmes to produce coaches and umpires. Every year, we conduct a Level 1 coaching course recognised by the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), while every two years we hold a Level 2 coaching course,” he said.

To date, he said Sabah has produced one female national player who is based in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.

“We will try to select promising young players from the state championship, and we hope to get strong support from parents to let their children be based in Bukit Jalil.

“Once selected, the players will be relocated to study from Form 1 to 5 in Bukit Jalil, but parents won’t let them go, that is our main challenge,” he said.