Thunderstorm (paintball team)
Thunderstorm is a Malaysian women's competitive paintball team based in Selangor. The team has competed internationally in the Women's National Xball League (WNXL) and represented Malaysia at the United Paintball Federation (UPBF) Women's World Championship in 2024.[1][2]
Thunderstorm finished second in the women's three-player division at the NXL European Championships in both 2024 and 2025.[3][4]
History
[edit]International debut (2024)
[edit]Thunderstorm was registered with PBLeagues on 11 June 2024, listing Selangor as its home location and Southern Legion Paintball Park in Cyberjaya as its home field. The registration date does not establish when the team was originally formed.[5]
In July 2024, Malaysian newspaper Sinar Harian reported that the Klang Valley-based team would represent Malaysia at the UPBF Women's World Championship in Dreux, France.
The ten-player squad was captained by Nurul Salwa Kamarul Zaman. According to Nurul Salwa, players were selected based on their recent competitive experience, alongside other practical considerations.[2]
The team prepared for the championship through training sessions at Awana Paintball in Bangi, Selangor.[2]
2024 UPBF World Championship
[edit]Thunderstorm travelled to Dreux in August 2024 for Malaysia's first participation in the women's category of the UPBF World Championship.
The competition was held alongside the NXL European Championships from 28 August to 1 September.
Competing under the national designation Malaysia Women, the squad finished sixth among eight participating countries.[3]
2024 NXL European Championships
[edit]In addition to the national team competition, Thunderstorm entered the European WNXL tournament divisions.
The team finished fifth among six competitors in the WNXL professional Xball division.
Thunderstorm also entered the women's three-player competition, reaching the final before finishing second behind the Brazilian team Chernobyl Pink.[3][6]
The runner-up finish was one of several podium results achieved by Malaysian teams at the 2024 NXL European Championships.[3]
2025 NXL European Championships
[edit]Thunderstorm returned to Dreux for the 2025 NXL European Championships, held from 27 to 31 August.
The team competed in the WNXL three-player division alongside Survivor Wolf, Belladonna Jayvees and Karmakademy.
Thunderstorm won seven of its eight preliminary matches, finishing first in the preliminary standings and qualifying directly for the final.
In the championship match, Thunderstorm lost 2–0 to Italy's Survivor Wolf, finishing second among four teams.[4][7]
The result marked the team's second consecutive runner-up finish in the women's three-player competition at the NXL European Championships.
Players
[edit]Nurul Salwa Kamarul Zaman captained Thunderstorm during its 2024 international campaign.[1][2]
Other players identified in contemporary Malaysian reporting included:
- Camun Wen – Member of the 2024 international squad.
- Mazarina Natasha Mat Nayan – Player and student at Universiti Poly-Tech Malaysia.
- Alya Johari – Member of the 2024 international squad.
The players were interviewed by Sinar Harian in July 2024 during preparations for the team's participation in France.[2]
Tournament results
[edit]| Year | Tournament | Division | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | UPBF World Championship | Women's Xball (Malaysia Women) | 6th of 8 |
| 2024 | NXL European Championships | WNXL Professional Xball | 5th of 6 |
| 2024 | NXL European Championships | WNXL 3-Man | 2nd of 5 |
| 2025 | NXL European Championships | WNXL 3v3 | 2nd of 4 |
Results are sourced from contemporary Malaysian reporting and official PBLeagues competition records.[3][4][5][6][7]
See also
[edit]- Women's paintball
- Women's paintball in Malaysia
- Women's National Xball League
- NXL Europe
- United Paintball Federation
- UPBF World Championship
- Malaysia women's national paintball team
References
[edit]- Sinar Harian, "10 pemain bawa cabaran negara ke Piala Dunia Paintball di Perancis", 19 July 2024 (Malay).
- Sinar Harian, "Mahu buktikan pasukan paintball wanita boleh pergi jauh", 20 July 2024 (Malay).
- Sinar Harian, "Laungan 'Malaysia Boleh' bergema di bumi Eropah", 2 September 2024 (Malay).
- PBLeagues, "2025 NXL European Championships", official tournament rankings and results.
- PBLeagues, "Thunderstorm", official team profile and tournament history.
- PBLeagues, NXL Europe 2024 season rankings.
- PBLeagues, "Thunderstorm at the 2025 NXL European Championships", official match records.