Dept keen to promote X-Games among Sarawak youths
BINTULU: The Sarawak Youth and Sports Department is committed to further promote the X- Games among youths in the state.
Its director Mohd Nizam Ismail said the department’s next step is to fight for a place for the extreme sports so that it could be held not only at state level, but also at the national level.
He said this when officiating at the closing and prize-giving ceremony of the Borneo X-Games Challenge 2018 (Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan zones) at Taman Millennium Skate Plaza in Tanjung Kidurong, here on Sunday.
“We choose Bintulu as the pioneer and the foundation of this championship. From here, we will come up with other development programmes to develop the XGames sports in Sarawak.
“The X- Games has evolved for over 18 years in West Malaysia, Singapore and other countries involving the young people,” he said adding the sports can be considered new to Bintulu and other places in Sarawak.
Nevertheless, Mohd Nizam said it is timely for the X- Games to be upgraded and hosted at the national level as it can bring a positive impact to the development of youths in general.
“The players need a motivation to excel in this sport and by uplifting the status of the X-Games from the divisional to the state and national levels, I believe it can attract more participation from our young generation,” he added.
According to him, the sport offers freedom to the players to showcase their skills and talents in an orderly manner without breaking any laws.
He disclosed the department is looking at promoting the X-Games in Sarawak in a systematic manner, and is looking forward to staging more such events in the future. Meanwhile, Bintulu Youth and Sports officer Kigen Satong urged the local authority to build a better skate park here for local X-Games enthusiasts.
“I do hope from now on, people will not see the X- Games as a ‘loitering’ event because it should be seen beyond that. It is one of the additional disciplines in the 2020 summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan,” he said.
Over 40 participants from throughout Sarawak took part in the two- day Borneo X- Games Challenge here which was divided into three main categories – BMX, Inline and Skateboarding.
In the BMX category, first place went to Fathullah Yusof, with Mohd Syahrul Fitri Mohd Yassim and Awang Mohd Haizam Zolkiffli placing second and third respectively.
Mohammad Hafiz Fazli Jabli topped the Inline category which saw Mohd Afifuddin Zainal Abidin coming in second and Haikal Ariffin Hamsawi Fauzi in third.
In the Skateboarding category, Wan Sapuani Jumat emerged champion while second and third place went to Wan Azizi Wan Hellme and Ezra Syah Khairulnizam respectively.
The winners received cash prizes and medals.
The event was organised by Sarawak Youth and Sports Department, Bintulu Youth and Sports Office in collaboration with Bintulu Resident Office, Bintulu Extreme Sport Association and Bintulu Youth Social Community.