Ku Nazrin Ardy Rudy Arsono gets animated when he talks about Beyblade, a sport that has brought him and his wife, Intan Azura Al Zahra, even closer.
The couple are the mainstay of Team RevoX’s Beyblade X Division in Malaysia. Ku Nazrin Ardy is the team captain, while Intan Azura is his assistant. She is also one of the team’s most successful bladers.
Last year, Intan Azura made history as the first female blader in Malaysia to finish in the top three of a Grade 1 tournament.
There are three levels of tournament in Beyblade X: Grade 1 (advanced), Grade 2 (intermediate) and Grade 3 (beginner). Intan Azura also won the Beyblade X Malaysia Sports Championship title.
“This is such an exciting sport,” said Ku Nazrin Ardy, as he described the intricacies and tactics of Beyblade.
“It has grown from a game for children to one that adults can enjoy. I’m particularly delighted that last December, the Youth and Sports Ministry recognised Beyblade as a sport.
“Even better, it is now part of the national schools’ primary co-curriculum. Hopefully, we can soon introduce it at secondary school level, too.”
Ku Nazrin Ardy said Team RevoX was proud to be part of the national rollout, helping schools across Malaysia set up Beyblade clubs.
“Kelab Gasing Beyblade Malaysia and several others worked hard to make the sport part of the school curriculum. We are just happy to help spread the word to schools,” he said.
“It has always been my dream to see more people take up the sport, and if we can get schoolchildren involved, that is a good start.”
Intan Azura, meanwhile, does not see herself as a trailblazer despite her successes, which include finishing runner-up in last year’s SEA Cup Malaysia Qualifying Tournament.
“Beyblade is an equal opportunity sport. I hope to see more females taking on and beating their male competitors,” she said.
“It is also not unusual to see young children battling and beating adults as the sport is about skill and strategy.”
Ku Nazrin Ardy and Intan Azura are confident of taking the sport to the next level – and they want to bring their team along for the ride.
Team RevoX is doing its part to popularise Beyblade in Malaysia.
Golfer to blader
For the Yong family, what started as a way to keep their son Nicholas busy has turned into an obsession.
Nicholas’ father, Victor Yong, and mother, Emily Lee, are also part of Team RevoX.
“Nicholas got interested in Beyblade nine months ago. Emily and I tagged along to encourage him. Before we knew it, we got hooked too,” said Yong.
“Remarkably, the first-ever tournament I competed in was in April this year – the Beyblade X Malaysia Sports Championship: Clash of Legends. Guess what? With Ku Nazrin’s coaching, we emerged as team champions!”
That sealed the deal for Yong, and there has been no turning back.
“I used to play golf, but I’ve since ditched my clubs for spinning tops. It’s a much cheaper sport!” he laughed.
“I get to use some of my golf skills in Beyblade, too. It is a unique sport.”
Lee said the family now spends every Saturday at their ‘home venue’ – MyToy in Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya.
“It’s come to a point where if we don’t go, we feel something is not right,” said Lee.
“What I love about Beyblade is how warm and welcoming the community is to new faces. They welcomed us with open arms, and I see that happening every time someone new joins – either at our club or elsewhere.
“When I went to my first G1 competition, people were offering us food and drinks, asking us to practise with them, and just being friendly.”
A family of champions
Another family that competes is Noor Azeem Md Anuar Hussain and his three sons – Ameer Saifuddeen (11), Ayaash Shaheer (eight) and Arshaan Shehzan (five).
“We started playing early last year. I only joined to keep my children company, but little did I know, I would become better than them,” he laughs, adding that the team is called Neo zTOH, with zTOH meaning ‘zero to hero’.
“It is a fun game for the whole family, and relatively cheap compared to other sports. We have won some G3 and G2 tournaments and regularly finish in the top eight in G1 competitions, too.”
Noor Azeem said his eldest son, Ameer Saifuddeen, has autism – and Beyblade has helped him open up.
“I have noticed my son’s social skills have improved since he started playing. His fine motor skills and concentration have also sharpened in the past year.”
He added that his wife, Anisyafiqa R. Azmi, is supportive of the family’s Beyblade endeavour.
“I’m delighted that it is now a sport in schools, as it gives children another game to play,” said Noor Azeem.
What is Beyblade X
It is the latest evolution of the globally popular spinning top battle game, combining high-speed action with competitive strategy. Players, known as bladers, launch customisable tops into an arena, aiming to knock out or out-spin their opponents.
This new generation introduces the Xtreme Stadium, featuring a unique rail system called the Xtreme Line that allows tops to accelerate rapidly and deliver powerful collisions.
The tops are built from three interchangeable parts – the Bit, Blade, and Ratchet – allowing players to tailor their setups for attack, defence, or stamina.
Recognised officially as a sport in several countries, Beyblade X is now played competitively with growing interest worldwide. With schools and family clubs embracing the game, Beyblade X is spinning its way into mainstream sporting culture.
Main image: Intan Azura is one of RevoX’s most successfully blader.
