Miri students get HKL-Top Sports Stars Awards
SIBU: The annual Hii King LengTop Sports Stars (HKL-TSS) Award has spread its wings to Miri with seven winners receiving their awards last weekend.
The students from SMK Riam Road are Leong Wan Mei, Chin Haw Ren, Ester Joanna, Lucy TIng Hui Voon, Epalace Jee Yi Fei, Yet Min Wei and Elvis Heng Jin Le, each received RM600 for two consecutive years and a certificate.
Award initiator Dr Gregory Hii Sui Chen who is also the founder of Delta Leasing Group, said the award rewards top Sarawak sports stars registered as students in Sarawak schools.
Hii said there were some of the 20 recipients including atheletes from Sarikei, Meradong and Sibu in various sports, including athletics (shot putt and hammer throw), taekwondo, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, swimming and international chess.
“I believe this is the only award in Sarawak which reward student atheletes, as it reflects my personal belief that sports is an important component of a wholesome education,” he added.
Earlier on, winners from Sarikei and Meradong also received their awards in their respective areas.
Unlike previous years, Hii said they are bringing the award closer to the home towns of the recipients in order to incalcuate a closer link with them.
In addition, teacher Ling Yuen Lee of Miri’s Riam Institute of Technology was picked the winner of the HKL- Sports Volunteer Extraordinaire Award (HKL-SVE). Ling outshone two other entries from Miri and Sibu to receive the award which carry a prize money of RM1,500 cash plus a certificate.
The sports volunteer extraordinaire award is given as recognition of outstanding sports personalities or volunteers who have contributed substantially and significantly towards the development of sports in Sarawak.
Hii expressed satisfaction that the annual HKL-TSS is gaining popularity in the state as indicated by the increase in the number of entries received each year.
However, Hii hopes that the HKL-TSS award could receive more entries especially from the southern region.
“This is truly an award programme meant for all Sarawakians and hopefully, for the next edition, we will get more applicants from all over the state.”