SK Sungai Anib I, SK Kepayan are Touch Rugby Under-11 champions
KOTA KINABALU: Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sungai Anib I and SK Kepayan emerged as champions of the Puan Sri Diana Diego Cup Touch Rugby Under-11 Tournament recently.
Played at the Maktab Rendah Sains Mara (MRSM) Kota Kinabalu here, SK Sungai Anib I of Sandakan claimed a 30-19 win over SK Sembulan to lift the boys' main title at the inaugural tournament.
In the Plate event, Sacred Heart Primary School defeated SK Kepayan 7-0 whole the Bowl title went to SK Luagan of Beaufort with a 5-0 win over SK Kapa. SK Babagon Penampang were the Shield category winners.
In the girls' competition, SK Kepayan of Kota Kinabalu clinched the title after a 5-0 victory over SK Malawa.
Eleven teams including four girls' squad took part in the tournament, which saw MRSM Kota Kinabalu creating history of sorts as the host of the first edition of the challenge.
Principal of MRSM Kota Kinabalu, Gilbert Wong Kia Kiat, said the main objective of the tournament was to unearth new talents at grassroots level, thus giving them a foundation to work their way up to state or national level.
"I'm proud of the tournament which received tremendous response in both categories... it was in line with the objective of the tournament," he said while acknowledging the strong support and contribution from Sabah Rugby Union (SRU) women chairperson Puan Sri Diana Diego for the tournament.
Meanwhile, SRU women's secretary Samsiah Almalek who represented Diana lauded the efforts by MRSM Kota Kinabalu for its initiative in developing the sport involving primary school students.