SDAAA eyes grander Sibu Open meet next year

SIBU: The Sibu Division Amateur Athletic Association (SDAAA) is racing against time in its fundraising drive to increase the number of sponsored events to be competed at the 13th Sibu Open Athletics Championship in 2019.

The Sibu Open currently has 10 sponsors for 10 selected events and SDAAA is hoping to add another five for next year’s edition.

Its president Dr Gregory Hii Sui Cheng said the total prize money would also increase from RM17,000 to RM30,000.

“Our ultimate aim is to make Sibu Open Athletics Championship a premier event that boast athletes from neighbouring countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei,” he said, adding that SDAAA is already on the right track.

“Last year, we managed to at t rac t s l i g ht ly over 9 0 0 participants whi le the just concluded championship attracted 892 runners coming from all over the country.

“The encouraging numbers were testimonies to the popularity

Our ultimate aim is to make Sibu Open Athletics Championship a premier event that boast athletes from neighbouring countries.

of the championship,” he added.

Hii said Sibu Open has become a major attraction, even to athletes from outside Sarawak.

“It will be a dream come true if we can get athletes from our neighbouring countries to join us. However, that will depend on the air- connectivity which is a big issue of late,” he said.

Hii, who is also president of Sibu Chinese Chamber Commerce and Industry, said he had been discussing with the Transport Ministry the idea of additional flights to Sibu, which he described as ‘mammoth task’.

“In Kuching, we have the Rainforest Musical Festival while in Sibu, we have the Sibu BASE Jump in the calendar of events. We hope to put Sibu Open in the calendar of event as part of our effort to uplift the standard of the athletes here,” he said.

Hi i said another area of collaboration is from both the private and public sectors and a good teamwork from the management and staff of Stadium Tun Zaidi.

“Everybody should contribute and play their roles. Together, we can make it a success,” he said.

Meanwhi le, newcomer Hii King Leng Sports Scholarship Foundation ( HKL- SSF) wi l l sponsor three new events for the championship.

The other sponsors are Huong Seng Motor Trading, KTS Trading, Ta Ann Holdings, McDonald, Hiap Ngee Seng, TN Sports, Delta Leasing, SMART Group of Companies and SDAAA.

Each sponsor will contribute RM1,200 as incentives to recordbreaking athletes, including overall champion team.

On another matter, Hii said he is also contemplating at staging a recognition night for former athletes and coaches in Sarawak for their contribution in the development of athletics in the state.

He said many former athletes and coaches had been working tirelessly behind the scene and they deserve acknowledgment for their undying efforts.

“A special committee to look into the preparatory works had already been set up.

“Hopefully, barring unforeseen circumstances, the recognition night will be held very soon,” he added.

Dr Gregory Hii, SDAAA president