Kota Kinabalu: World-renowned arm wrestler Devon Larratt and his wife, Jodi Larratt, are exploring Sabah’s tourism experiences during their visit for the East vs West International Arm Wrestling Competition, which is making its debut in Malaysia with Sabah as the host destination.
The couple arrived in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday (June 17) and were welcomed by Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit during a traditional Sabahan dinner at The Native Café Hotel No. 5.
During their stay, the Larratts are scheduled to visit several of Sabah’s key tourism attractions, including Kinabalu National Park, Mari-Mari Cultural Village, a Klias river cruise, island-hopping activities and the Gaya Street Sunday Market.
The STB is facilitating a familiarisation programme for the Larratts, aimed at introducing Sabah’s diverse tourism offerings, ranging from nature and wildlife experiences to local food and cultural attractions, to international athletes and visitors connected to the sporting event.
The Larratts are slated to attend meet-and-greet sessions with arm wrestling enthusiasts and athletes participating in the East vs West International Arm Wrestling Competition today (June 20) and the Sabah International Arm Wrestling Competition tomorrow, both taking place at Centre Point Sabah.
Speaking on his visit, Devon, who is from Canada, expressed excitement about experiencing Sabah for the first time and connecting with the regional arm wrestling community.
“This is my third time in Borneo and my first time in this part of the island. I’m excited to see the level of talent here and to meet the athletes. I hope this event continues to grow and becomes a regular gathering point for the best competitors in the region,” he said.
Devon noted that international sporting events often play an important role in encouraging travel, as they bring together competition, participation and cultural exchange in one destination.
“Events are always a great reason for people to travel. Beyond the competition, it’s also about experiencing the food, the people and the place. That combination makes a destination memorable,” he said.
He added that athletes are generally drawn to destinations that offer both quality sporting environments and meaningful local experiences.
“If you can train, compete, enjoy good food and explore local attractions in one place that makes it very appealing for athletes and visitors.
“And from what I’ve heard, I believe Sabah has strong potential as sports tourism destination for arm wrestling and other sports,” he said.
The upcoming arm wrestling tournaments will feature over 150 participants from 13 countries namely Malaysia, Taiwan, Sweden, the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei, Russia, China, Indonesia, India, Thailand, South Korea and Singapore.
