1,000 students at UMS Sports Carnival
KOTA KINABALU: Some 1,000 students are taking part in the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sports Carnival which was officially launched at the UMS Stadium here, last night.
UMS vice chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Mohd Harun Abdullah said such carnivals were crucial to helping students to stay fit and healthy, which in turn helps to produce bright minds for the future development of the state and country.
Several league competitions for football, futsal, sepaktakraw, volleyball and basketball would be held throughout April and May as well as netball, handball, badminton, table tennis, tennis and chess.
Other events include sports for the masses, Sioknya Futsal tournament, athletics, a chess tournament and other indoor sports.
The ceremony was also in conjunction with the launching of the Road to World Cup 2018 Football Tournament, which gives international students a chance to compete in a healthy and competitive environment.
The teams involved in the Road to World Cup tournament are Federation (a mix of African and Southeast Asian nations), China, India, Brunei, Indonesia, Timor Leste and Malaysia.
Meanwhile, Harun said the Sports Carnival and Road to World Cup Tournament are the best platforms for UMS students to come together outside of the academic field.
“That is why UMS is constantly upgrading its facilities so that everyone on campus can have free access to the best sporting facilities in a conducive and friendly environment.
“We have begun these upgrading works in 2015 which include the FIFA approved artificial football field that was completed in October last year,” he said.
Towards this end, Harun said UMS is also planning to upgrade its running track next year and that he hoped all UMS students and residents would make full use of the sporting facilities to their advantage.
Harun also said he was very happy to see the involvement of international students in the Road to World Cup tournament, which the university is organising for the first time.
Also present at the ceremony were special guests football legends Datuk James Wong and Datuk Hassan Sani as well as Indonesian Consul Akhmad Daya Handasah Irfan and Brunei Consul Pengiran Nooriyah Yussof, among others.