RM12,600 up for grabs in Kaamatan sports festival

KOTA KINABALU: A total of RM12,600 is up for grabs in the upcoming state-level Kaamatan Traditional Sports Festival 2017, which will be held on May 30 and 31 at Hongkod Koisaan, KDCA Penampang.

This year’s event, featuring 11 types of traditional sports, will be open to the public and, best of all, admission is free-of-charge.

The event will be officiated by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman and kick off with the famous Sukan Tumbuk Padi (Tumutu).

“The theme for this year’s event is Kaamatan Impowon Pisumpuruan (Kaamatan Foundation of Unity).

“Similar to previous instalments, this sporting event will be held in conjunction with the Kaamatan festival.

“On top of that, through this event, we hope that we can promote and revitalise some sporting activities which have long been forgotten,” said Sabah Sports Board Chairman cum Organising Committee Patron Datuk Louis Rampas.

Commenting on some of the new additions for this year’s instalment, Rampas disclosed that his committee has been working closely with Persatuan Orang Kuat Sabah (Sabah Strongman Association) to further revamp the weight-lifting event.

It was also understood that this year’s arm-wrestling event will be complying with international standards. For instance, the tables used for the competition will be fitted accordingly with the international standard.

Some athletes who had participated in these traditional sports events before had eventually went on to achieve success at the international level, said Rampas.

For May 30, the sports categories involved are the mipulos (arm-wrestling), momolistik (catapulting), rampanau (legged stilt-walking), sipatu tompulalanggoi, tumutu, migazat dukug (tug of war) and monungkava kalabau (buffalo trapping using a rope).

As for May 31, it will feature the monopuk (blowpipe), mamagandal, mobpiri mangapui, mipulos, manandu and migazat dukug.

Aside from cash, there will also be other types of prizes and certificates for the winner to bring home, as well as for the second to third runners-up.

Rampas said this to the media during a press conference at the Sabah Sports Board Building here yesterday.

The event also bore witness to the mock cheque presentation of RM10,000 and a T-Shirt presentation from Warisan Harta Sdn Bhd and Ararat Sports and Souvenirs respectively.

Also present in the event were Sabah Sports Board General Manager Penyuki Matta, Permanent Secretary of the Youth and Sports Ministry Awang Damit Ag Anak, Warisan Harta Chief Financial Officer Dionysia Kibat, Ararat Sports and Souvenirs Manager Ben Wong and KDCA Representative cum Organising Committee Co-Chairwoman Dr Mary Gambidau.