KUCHING, Oct 2: Sarawak’s rising arm-wrestling star, Acho Prince Kee, clinched the U18 championship in the 85 kg category, right arm division, marking a pinnacle his burgeoning career.
At just 17-year-old, he achieved remarkable success at his second world championship, the IFA Arm-wrestling Championship, hosted in Kuala Lumpur this year. This achievement comes just one year after he entered the world of arm-wrestling in 2021.
Acho’s journey has led to an impressive collection of 11 medals across various categories and competitions.
Reflecting on his second major tournament, he found the experience less intimidating, and things started to take a positive turn as he became more familiar with the environment.
“I want to thank God, glory to God for this competition, for helping me fight my battles for me.
My experience this time around was significantly different from the first. Initially, I was overwhelmed with apprehension and nervousness, making it difficult for me to approach anyone.
“However, I soon found myself surrounded by familiar faces, which significantly boosted my confidence. Having the support of people I knew enabled me to engage more freely, both in conversations and in the competitive arena,” he told TVS during an interview on Monday.
Acho faced a pivotal moment when he advanced to the final stage, achieving a remarkable comeback victory over South Africa’s representative, Allexander Hoy.
“The significant moment occurred when I reached the final and defeated South Africa. It was my first time in a world championship final, leaving me utterly speechless.
“I’ll give credit Hoy because on the left hand, he beat me twice in the upper bracket and in the lower bracket. But on the right hand, I beat him twice in the semi-finals as well as in the final,” he added.
Acho also took the opportunity to expressed his gratitude to Sarawak Sport Corporation and his coach Dominic Johnny for his endless guidance.
“Lastly, I want to thank everyone, my family, my friends, everyone,” he pointed out.
When inquired about his future plans, Acho responded that his primary focus would be on his studies, given the proximity of the national Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM).
“I have SPM coming up soon, so I’m temporarily pausing my training until I complete it. I hope that I can come back even stronger after SPM and compete nationally next year,” said Acho with a smile, aiming to participate in the same IFA Arm-wrestling competition next year in Greece. -TVS
