Bukit Jalil pips Sarikei to Sibu Open title
SIBU: Sibu Division Amateur Athletics Association ( Sdaaa) permanent president Temenggong Datuk Lau Lee Ming is hoping that the Youth and Sport Ministry will come up with a comprehensive blueprint to help develop the potential of the athletes in the state.
He added that a key area would be to provide the necessary facilities for the local athletes to train.
“T hi s i s o f pa r amount importance and if athletes are denied usage of the basic facilities, there is very little chances of them making progress in their pursuit for higher glory,’ he said.
Lau was speaking at the closing of last weekend’s Sibu Open Track and Field Championship held at Stadium Tun Zaidi.
A total of 892 athletes from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak took part in the two- day championship.
Citing Stadium Tun Zaidi in Sibu, Lau said it is extensively used by the people of Sibu and there have been calls for lighting so that it could be used at night.
Meanwhile, Sdaaa president Dr Gregory Hii Sui Cheng announced an increase in sponsored events for the meet from 10 to to 15 and an increase in total prize money to RM30,000.
“Hopefully, we can get athletes from Brunei, Singapore, Thailand and even Kalimantan to take part in the next edition,” he said.
Bukit Jal i l Sports School ( BJSS) won 14 gold, 11 silver and 8 bronze medals to edge out Sarikei Selected (13-11-13) for the overall title. SMK Tabuan Jaya ( 6- 6- 3) finished third.
BJSS and Sarikei Selected were tied at 13 gold until Bukit Jalil’s Shankari Viyaja Kumar won the 800m for Girls Under-14 in a new record of 2: 31.46sec.
Sarikei’s Grace Wong ( 53.08m in women’s hammer), Ngu Ing Biao (44.40m in men’s discus) and Kong Chin Poh (13.20m in men’s shot put) were among the record breakers
17 new records were created during the two- day championship. See Also Page 16
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