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Kota Kinabalu: Malaysia celebrated a major triumph at the prestigious Taiwan National Armwrestling Championships, held in Taichung from September 13-14. 

The event drew over 300 participants from across the region, with the spotlight on the International Supermatches, an elite showdown featuring top armwrestlers from Southeast Asia and Taiwan.

Malaysia’s strongman, Michael @ Mike Ford, emerged as the overall champion after defeating Taiwan’s top-ranked contender, Kevin Tsai, also known as @Hurricane. Ford described the match as one of the toughest of his career, saying, “I beat the strongest man in Taiwan, it was one tough fight.”

Following his victory over Tsai, Ford went on to dominate the tournament the next day, defeating both international and local competitors to secure the overall title. His performance earned him personal glory and placed Malaysia firmly at the top of the tournament standings.

The invite-only event featured high-stakes matchups, including Thailand’s No. 1 versus the Philippines’ No. 1, Singapore’s No. 1 against Vietnam’s No. 2, and Hong Kong’s No. 2 facing Taiwan’s No. 4. Ford’s win over Taiwan’s No. 1 was a defining moment, showcasing Malaysia’s rising strength in the international armwrestling scene.

Ford’s victory was a proud moment for the nation, as he overcame fierce competition from seasoned athletes across Southeast Asia. 

The event concluded with Malaysia basking in glory, with Ford’s triumph raising the country’s profile in the global armwrestling community.

Looking ahead, Ford is set to compete in Toronto, Canada, at the Global Elite Armwrestling Championship in collaboration with the Major Armwrestling Championship on November 29. 

There, he will face Rick Heidebrecht, a multiple-time national champion, in what promises to be another thrilling showdown.