Association out to make signature armwrestling challenge bigger, better next year

KOTA SAMARAHAN (July 7): The organiser of the just-concluded Nibong Over The Top Armwrestling Championship 2024 aims to make the next edition of its signature event bigger and better, with more participation from youths.

Held by Samarahan Division Armwrestling Association (KSAW), the competition featured 24 contestants coming from Kuching, Samarahan and also Sibu.

“This ‘Over The Top 2.0’ is the continuation of our first event, held in April last year, which gathered 38 contestants.

“There could have been more participation this year, but there was a competition going on at the same time in Sabah where most of the senior armwrestlers had gone to.

“On the positive side, though, our event hosted many young talents, including newcomers, so it’s very encouraging to see that armwrestling has captured the interest of many youths.

“It certainly signifies the ‘Rakan Muda’ spirit of the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS),” said KSAW president Jeremiah Rukong when met after the closing ceremony at the Borneo Flavours Café here late Saturday.

Adding on, he said judging from the good reception and also the solid support from the KBS and the sponsors, he believed that KSAW should be able to host a more spectacular championship next year.

“Most importantly, KSAW remains strong because of its AJK (committee), as they are the backbone of this success. They’re very committed, giving 150 per cent in ensuring that everything would go smoothly.

“All these elements factored in, yes, we are confident of making Over The Top 3.0 championship a grander event next year,” he enthused.

Meanwhile, Corporal Mohd Nor Shyefful Hafiz Duan was announced the ‘Champion of Champions’ (COC) of this year’s competition.

The 33-year-old policeman, who represented the Police Training Centre (Pulapol) Kuching Armwrestling Club, had earlier won the Above-75kg category, where Harrison Dampol and Wellington Rantai finished as runners-up.

Shyefful Hafiz then emerged triumphant in the COC single-knockout-decider match against the respective Junior and Under-75kg category winners, Evan Staniey and Mohd Shafiq Abdullah.

The Novice category winner was Stephen Sim.

Referees for the championship were Dickinson Dickes and Jacklis Bering, with Mark Leroy serving as the event’s key official.