Malaysia’s Men’s Team Wins Gold at Asia Pacific Dodgeball Invitational 2024

Kuala Lumpur, 30 October 2024 – Malaysia’s men’s dodgeball team, Prime, has emerged victorious at the prestigious Asia Pacific Dodgeball Invitational 2024, recently held in Sydney, Australia. In a thrilling final match, Malaysia triumphed over the United States (USA) to secure the gold in the men’s category, marking a significant achievement for the team and the nation.

Team Captain Becomes First-Ever Double-Gold Medalist

The tournament, now in its eighth year, featured 112 teams across three categories – male, female, and mixed. A total of eight countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, USA, Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan participated, solidifying the event’s standing as one of the largest and most anticipated in the international dodgeball calendar.

In the men’s category alone, 42 teams competed, but it was Malaysia’s Prime that shone brightest, clinching the gold in an intense showdown against the USA. The Malaysian team’s victory represents a pivotal moment for the country’s dodgeball scene, highlighting their growing strength in global competitions.

Adding to Malaysia’s success, the men’s team captain made history as the first-ever double-gold medallist in the tounament. As an invited player for the Australian team during the mixed final (and subsequent win), the Malaysian captain earned an additional gold medal, making him the first player in the history of the Asia Pacific Dodgeball Invitational to win two gold medals in a single tournament.

Speaking about the team’s success and his unprecedented achievement, the Malaysian captain expressed pride in the team’s hard work and the future of dodgeball in Malaysia.

“This win is a testament to the dedication and talent of our players. Being part of this team has been an incredible experience, and I’m beyond honoured to have contributed to our country’s success. The dodgeball scene in Malaysia is growing, and we have so much untapped potential. We hope that this victory inspires more recognition and support for dodgeball as we continue to make waves in international competitions.” 

“Malaysia has consistently produced talented athletes, and our win at this prestigious event is proof that our players can compete at the highest level. There are many promising athletes in Malaysia, and with more support, I’m confident we can continue to achieve great things on the world stage. We’re proud of this win, but even more excited for what the future holds for dodgeball in Malaysia,” said Tan Jia Tzer (27).

This victory highlights the nation’s growing strength in global competitions, thanks in large part to standout players like Harigaran Ravichandran (27), who was selected as the Most-Valuable-Player at the 2019 World Dodgeball Championship in Cancun, Mexico and Au Zhen Jack (24), who captained the Malaysian men’s team at the 2024 World Dodgeball Championship in Graz, Austria. 

Prime is eager to build on their recent success and will continue representing the country in competitions around the world, to showcase the talent and potential of Malaysian athletes.