An international kettlebell tournament was recently held in Kuala Lumpur by the Bunga Raya Kettlebell Club. More than a hundred people of all ages and fitness levels turned out for the inaugural IKO Malaysia Open 2024 Kuala Lumpur kettlebell tournament on Saturday at PassionFit KL, according to Malay Mail.
These individuals, whose ages ranged from 22 to 66, were from 14 different nations, including the US, Japan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, and the Philippines. They included both novice and experienced lifters. The diversity showed that mental preparedness is just as important to the sport as physical skill. The excitement was palpable as fans wildly applauded each competitor, creating an electric atmosphere at the venue, The Linc KL.
The format of the competition tested the players’ strength, stamina, and mental toughness by requiring them to perform as many repetitions as they could in ten minutes. The kettlebell weights available to participants ranged from 8 kg to 32 kg, with categories designed to accommodate varying skill and experience levels.
The atmosphere was electric with excitement as onlookers encouraged the competitors. This adaptability made the competition accessible to a wide spectrum of competitors by enabling athletes to compete at different levels of difficulty. Throughout the demanding 10-minute round, participants had to pace themselves, keep their focus, and manage their energy, demonstrating the emphasis on mental preparedness over physical power.
Ritzal Shawn, the tournament director, stated that the primary goal was to establish a community and educate fitness fans about kettlebell tournaments. There were 17 categories in the tournament, and about 60 judges from around the world kept an eye on it. The Bunga Raya Kettlebell Club, founded in 2021 by a group of fitness enthusiasts who came together to lift kettlebells as a community are the organizers of the tournament.
The concept for holding a similar tournament in Malaysia initially began when some of the founding members, Ritzal and Cyril Tan competed in Hong Kong, November last year. Tan also stated that he intends to develop the Malaysian community and bring fresh ideas to the tournament structure going forward.