Source : http://www.newsabahtimes.com.my/nstweb/fullstory/47338
KOTA KINABALU: The Orang Kuat Sabah (Sabah’s Strongestman) Challenge 2011 to be held at the Star City North in Asia City this weekend promises to be an exciting affair.
Although James Wee, who was initially thought to be defending his title, but (now), is believed to have had a change of heart, the challenge that enters its second edition will not lack thrills and spills, not when it is going to witness the participation of international strength athletes from Singapore.
There will be five athletes from the Republic, including their current champion (Singapore Strongestman Challenge) in Ahmad Taufiq.
Taufiq will be coming with four others namely Mohd Alauddin Mat Arif, Mohd Yasir Alamkky Harun, Mohd Badrun Nafis Saion and Sulaiman Ismail.
The five are among the 15 that have confirmed their participation for the two-day challenge organised by Casero Events.
Event Promoter and Technical Head Roger Frederick said yesterday that they are expecting another one or two more athletes to register at the eleventh hour.
“We believe this figure will increase because there are one or two more athletes who have expressed their desire to compete. But now we just have to wait and see, but if there is none coming forward, we still have a good number of participants,” said Roger.
He also hoped to see defending champion James among the latecomers.
“It would be great if he could compete and defend his title. With the participation of athletes from Singapore, we believe this is going to be more exciting and challenging.
“But even if he opts not to defend his title, we have one or two athletes who we can count on to take on the Singaporeans,” said Roger, without revealing any names.
But looking at the 10 confirmed local participants it looks like Roger is referring to Alfred Magabis from Kudat, who finished second at the JBorneo Tuhun Tavakas (JBorneo Strongestman Challenge 2010).
For the record, the winner of the JBorneo Strongestman Challenge 2010 Geinod Lozitin also opted out of the OKS 2011.
Micro Pilitino Basar from Tuaran, who finished third last time out (OKS), is another name that could spring a surprise, and so is Hanesty Ahandoi from Kudat. He finished fourth when he made his debut at the JBorneo Strongestman Challenge last year.
The rest of the confirmed athletes are Billy Simon George (Norman Gym Penampang), Alvid Landy Iloyd (KK – fifth placed OKS 2010), Nazri Sitol (newcomer), Areon Majamun (Kepayan – Tuhun Tavakas contestant 2010), Affendy Mathius (Keningau – 4th placed OKS 2010) and George Jailis (Tambunan – newcomer).
The identity of the 15th contestant was unavailable at press time.
These strength athletes will be put to a real test where they will push it to the limit in overcoming the six classic strongestman challenges namely truck pull, farmer’s walk, car dead lift, tyre flip, atlas stone and newly introduced challenge yoke walk.
For the record, the winner of the challenge would receive RM1,500 prize money, while the second to sixth placing participants would pocket RM1,000, RM700, RM400, RM200 and RM100 respectively plus trophies and medals.