KUALA LUMPUR: After having displayed a dominating performance at the Asian Dodgeball Championship 2023 last weekend, the Malaysia Association of Dodgeball (MAD) hope to be accepted as an affiliate of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM).
MAD president Datuk V. Radha Krishnan said it is crucial for the development of the sport not only in Malaysia, but also in the region.
Radha Krishnan, who is also the Asian Dodgeball Federation president, said dodgeball is also hoping to make into the 2027 SEA Games to be hosted in Malaysia.
"We have applied to become OCM's affiliate sometime ago, hope they would consider our application to help enhance the preparations for the SEA Games inclusion. We are the powerhouse in Asia, so we should take advantage of this to host the sport in the SEA Games.
"It will also strengthen our level at the international level, because there are talks to push the sport into the Olympics, with Saudi Arabia bidding for the 2036 Games," the World Dodgeball Federation Vice President said when contacted.
Radha Krishnan said, apart from Malaysia, six other associations – Brunei, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam – are also interested for the SEA Games push.
Malaysia concluded the Asian Dodgeball Championship 2023 at the Tampines Sport Hub, Singapore with five gold and a silver from six categories contested, besides having won a gold and silver in last year's World Championships in Canada.
He said the team will continue preparations for the next World Championships in Austria, next year, and the 2025 Asian Championships.
"We need to continue our development and hard work to remain competitive in the world and regional level. MAD will extend our talent hunting outside the Klang Valley, since now most of our players are from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
"We will also start our National Dodgeball League with participation from all states in March, next year, as well as national level competitions for clubs," he said.