Malaysia’s Clarice Seet, a two-time Asian Dodgeball Championship title winner who has played the sport since 2019, will make her world championship debut in the Women’s Foam Division in Bangkok in December.

The 11th World Dodgeball Federation (WDBF) World Championships will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 5 to 13 December.

“It feels surreal,” Clarice told ToughASIA. “In just a few weeks time, I’ll finally be living a moment that I’ve been looking forward to since I first committed to this sport back in 2019.”

Her Asian titles came in 2023 and 2025. Having played at two Asian Dodgeball Championships (ADC), she expects the Worlds to be “on a completely different scale” and said she is excited to test herself against some of the best players in the world.

She credited friends and family, her fundraiser brownie supporters, individual sponsors, strength and conditioning coaches and physiotherapists for getting her there.

Malaysia is ranked eighth in the world in the Women’s Foam category and holds 16 WDBF Foam medals. Clarice said there is a sense of responsibility in representing a country with such a strong history in the sport, but that a relatively young team is coming in with a different mindset.

“The last time Team MAS women’s team won a championship was back in 2017, and with Team Canada having won the last two championships and other countries continuing to improve over the years, we know the competition will be tough,” she said.

Instead of piling pressure on themselves to match past achievements, she said, the players want to focus on playing their best, proving themselves and giving the other teams a good fight, with the championship title still their main goal.

“In a way, we have nothing to lose and everything to gain from this experience,” Clarice said.

She named Canada and the USA among the biggest threats, along with Australia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and expects their squads to be stronger and better prepared than at the ADC.

With the team made up of players from various clubs, the national preparation phase in October and November has leaned on repetitive situational drills and on learning each other’s strengths and weaknesses, she said. The players also put themselves in uncomfortable scenarios and different player combinations to sharpen their communication and problem-solving.

“It can be really frustrating at times, but that’s how we learn from our mistakes, make adjustments and build trust through the process,” she said.

Clarice works full time as a fintech consultant and is also a part-time baker. Getting enough rest is probably the hardest part of her preparation, she said. Her day usually starts around 7.30am with work, and dodgeball training at night can run as late as midnight after team discussions.

“Coffee and energy gels have definitely been my lifesavers on some days, although I wouldn’t recommend relying on them too much. But yes, rest and recovery are just as important as the training itself,” she said.

To avoid burnout, she plans her schedule ahead, keeps a to-do list, listens to her body and has regular physiotherapy.

Clarice also won national Ultimate Frisbee titles in 2025 and 2026. She said the cardio and stamina that Ultimate demands have helped her keep up with the intensity of dodgeball and recover faster after an energy-draining point, while its Spirit of the Game ethos shaped how she values mutual respect and sportsmanship.

Inside a 40-minute game, she said, players have to identify key threats, adapt when the initial strategy isn’t working and stay composed in close games where every decision carries a risk.

“Ultimately, at the highest level, dodgeball is just as much a mental game as it is a physical one,” she said.

Clarice also coaches and is involved in interschool youth tournaments. She said dodgeball is still a growing sport with a long way to go before reaching the Olympic stage, or even the SEA Games, and that players have to be realistic about being in a self-funded sport with no guarantee that government funding or financial support will improve.

“Sometimes you have to create those opportunities yourself, people who recognise your hard work and believe in what you’re working towards will be more than happy to support your journey!” she said.

She has described reaching Bangkok as a dream seven years in the making, through COVID-19 delays, injuries and funding challenges. She will wear the No. 9 jersey.

“I guess I’m also very stubborn when it comes to something I truly want, once I’ve set my mind on it, it’s hard for me to give up, even when things don’t go my way,” Clarice said.

“Looking back at all the years of perseverance and the challenges I’ve had to overcome, I’m proud of myself for not just earning my spot on the team, but also becoming a player that my teammates count on too!”