SARIKEI: Sarikei came alive over the weekend as the Sarikei Festival 2025 hosted a thrilling armwrestling competition that drew 41 athletes from various parts of Sarawak and Sabah.
The event, held on August 2 at the grounds of Dewan Suarah Sarikei, was organised by the 55Brotherhood Gym.
It featured participants from Serian, Sibu, Kapit, Kanowit, Sarikei, Bintangor, Saratok, Kuching, Bintulu and Sabah.
In a statement issued by the festival organisers, the competition was divided into three categories: Pro Open Weight, Amateur 75 kg and above, and Amateur 75 kg and below.
“The Pro Open Weight category saw Jong Chi Joon from Serian emerge as champion, with Acho Prince Kee from Kuching placing second and Kolwin Justine from Sabah securing third place.
“In the Amateur 75-kg and above category, Nicholas Louis from Sibu clinched the top spot, followed by Mohammad Roslan from Saratok in second place, and Gibson Bangga from Bintangor in third,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Amateur 75-kg and below category was dominated by athletes from Saratok, with Aubrey Aldrey Aga taking first place, and Mohd Faris Chula finishing second.
Third place went to Abdul Rahim from Bintulu.
The inclusion of amateur categories aimed to identify and nurture new talents who could be groomed as future representatives for Sarawak in the sport of armwrestling.
In the statement, organisers of the event emphasised the importance of building a strong base of local athletes to ensure continued growth and competitiveness in the sport.
The event was made possible through the support of Datuk Michael Ronnie Langgong, Resident of Sarikei Division, who entrusted Faris Nordin and Hafiz Abdullah from the ’55Brotherhood Gym’ to lead the organisation of the competition.
Their efforts were part of a larger initiative to boost sporting activities during the annual Sarikei Festival and promote strength-based sports within the local community.
“55Brotherhood Gym is now actively seeking sponsorship to support the development of its athletes and expand its participation in future state and national-level competitions.
“With limited funding and rising travel and training costs, the team hopes to secure financial backing to provide better facilities, coaching, and exposure for promising athletes, especially those from rural areas who show potential but lack access to resources,” the statement added.
The organisers hope to make the event a permanent fixture in the Sarikei Festival calendar and continue discovering promising new athletes from every corner of the region.
