E-Sport debuts in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: The emerging phenomenon of Electronic Sport or also known as E-Sport in Malaysia has seen its popularity surge amongst teenagers in line with the wave of information technology and communication (ICT).
The E-Sport arena has now been adopted by the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports as one of the new global competitive sports. The government is keen in promoting E-Sport amongst young Malaysians to enable them to participate and compete at national and international level.
Subsequently, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has introduced the E-Sport League in its quest to unearth talented players to represent the nation in international E-Sport events.
According to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, E-Sport has a great potential in contributing to the nation’s economy as it has huge followings.
Under the 2019 Budget, the government has allocated a fund of RM10 million to the Malaysian Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC) to develop and promote E-Sport as one of key activities and industry amongst young Malaysians.
The Sabah Zone MASISWA Sports Tournament this year took place over three days with estimated 1,100 athletes representing the 19 competing private higher learning institutions in Sabah.
The tournament included nine types of sports namely badminton, volleyball, tenpin bowling, futsal, sepak takraw, chess, netball as well as the newly introduced ESport and Aerodance.
The overall champion for this year is University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) with four golds and one silver, followed by SIDMA College Sabah with four golds and one bronze. Third placing went to North Borneo University College (NBUC) with two golds, three silvers and four bronzes.
In his speech during the closing ceremony which was read by his Political Secretary, Henry Shim, Sabah Minister of Youth and Sports, Phoong Jin Zhe said that the Sabah Zone MASISWA Sports Tournament had indeed provided the best platform for athletes to compete at national and international level in the respective sports discipline.
He also stressed on the importance of sports in promoting students’ healthy lifestyle while they progress in their tertiary studies.
He also commended this year’s host, Asia Metropolitan College Kota Kinabalu for its hardwork and efforts in making the Sabah Zone MASISWA Sports Tournament a success.
Also present were Minda Global Berhad Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Naresh Alagan, Asia Metropolitan College Kota Kinabalu Chief Executive, Kristy Ng Sze Nee, President of Sabah Youth Council, Ahmad Farid Sainuri, founder of E-Sport Community Sabah, Mohd Azhar Ramili and all the chief executives of the competing institutions.