Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Dodgeball Association (MAD) has called on the national team to capitalize on the opportunity of hosting the Dodgeball World Championship in November next year. MAD president Datuk V. Radhakrishnan announced that while the event will feature fierce competition from top teams globally, it offers a prime platform for Malaysia to reclaim its world champion title, last won in 2022.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Radhakrishnan emphasized the ambition of winning gold as hosts. “There is no specific target yet, but as the hosts, our target must be to win gold. We once won the World Championship in 2022. But the competition is getting stronger because many countries are now stepping up and training hard,” he mentioned. The 2026 championship is expected to attract participation from 80 to 90 countries, involving around 1,800 participants, highlighting Malaysia’s status as a dodgeball powerhouse and placing it among the top three nations in the sport.

The last victory for Malaysia in the
World Championship came in 2022 when the national men’s team triumphed over Australia with a score of 10-5 in the final held in Edmonton, Canada. Radhakrishnan noted the growing popularity of dodgeball worldwide and expressed hopes for its inclusion in major sporting events such as the Olympic Games. With Saudi Arabia preparing a bid for the 2036 Olympics, there is optimism for dodgeball’s inclusion.

Additionally, Radhakrishnan expressed satisfaction with the national team’s performance at the 2025 Asian Dodgeball Championship, where Malaysia emerged as the overall champion, securing three gold, two silver, and one bronze medal.