It was fitting for Cezzane Ezard and Mauro Venitti to tie the knot at the Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018 beach volleyball venue. After all, the Australian couple met for a first time during a Masters volleyball competition in Alice Springs in 2012.

“He is from Perth while I am from Alice Springs. Our first meeting was when we played against each other. After that, we kept in touch and our relationship grew stronger,” said Cezzanne, 48.

The pair decided to get married on the eve of the APMG 2018 beach volleyball competition. They were joined in the simple wedding ceremony held at the Hard Rock Hotel beach in Batu Ferringhi by 46 family members and friends.

“This is the first time we are competing in a Masters Games in Asia, so we thought ‘why not get married in Penang?’. We don’t have much time for celebration as our first beach volleyball match is tomorrow. Just like everyone else, we are also targeting for medals in both the beach and indoor volleyball disciplines in Penang,” said Vennitti, 49.

The APMG Chief Executive Officer Linda Geh presented the newly married couple with a bunga telor bouquet shortly after they had exchanged marriage vows.

A total of 22 sports are contested in APMG 2018 – Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Cycling, Football, Golf, Hockey, Lion Dance, Netball, Pencak Silat, Shooting, Softball, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Tenpin Bowling, Volleyball, Weightlifting and Wushu. The competitions will be held over nine days in various sporting venues around Penang, both on the island and mainland.

The APMG 2018 is hosted by the Penang State Government and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP). The Games is sanctioned by the International Masters Games Association (IMGA) and Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM), both affiliates of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The Games is also supported by Malaysia Convention &

Exhibition Bureau, a division under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia.

A total of 5,564 participants from 64 countries around the world have signed up for the Games. Among the ex-national athletes from Malaysia who will compete in APMG are Muhammad Hafiz Hashim and Ong Ewe Hock (badminton) and Cheng Chu Sian (archery).

For more information on Asia Pacific Masters Games 2018, visit www.apmg2018.com

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