Demise of HKL-TSS is Sibu Open’s gain
SIBU: After six years and 120 recipients, the Hii King Leng-Top Sports Star (HKL-TSS) and the four-year-old Hii King LengSports Volunteer Extraordinaire (HKL-SVE) will bid adieu after awards for the final batch are given out this September.
Award initiator Dr Gregory Hii Sui Cheng has decided to stop offering both after weighing the pros and cons.
However, Hii said the funds allocated for HKL-TSS and HKL-SVE, amounting to RM12,000 will be channelled to invest in the Sibu Open Track and Field Championship.
“After all these years, I discover that both HKL-TSS and HKLSVE have not really achieve its objective. As such, I have decided to put the money to a better use and I am optimistic of attaining greater results by promoting Sibu Open Track and Field Championship,” he told thesundaypost.
Hii, who is also Sibu Division Amateur Athletic Association (SDAAA) chairman, pledged to make Sibu Open Track and Field Championship a major event in Sarawak’s calendar.
“We hope to make the event bigger, grandeur and more spectacular so that it will be able to attract athletes from countries like China, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Philippines, Taiwan, Hong Kong and so forth to make it a truly Asian affair.”
He said, however, that Tun Zaidi Stadium here will need a mini facelift if SDAAA is to help achieve that.
“We need night lighting facilities for the athletes to train at night and, on top of that, we need the good collaboration and teamwork from the management and staff of Stadium Tun Zaidi with SDAAA,” he said.
As he is also the Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry president, Hii wants to work on improving airconnectivity linking Sibu to Singapore, Sabah or other countries.
“If everybody contribute their roles, no matter how minor it is, they are bound to bring results.”
With additional cash, prize money for record breakers and winners in the Sibu Open will now increase to RM29,000.
Five additional events will be added to the current 11 carrying prize money.
SDAAA is believed to be the only athletic association in the country that offers cash prizes to the top three winners of the selected events. Last year, the Sibu Open attracted state teams and sports schools from West Malaysia.
Sponsors include KTS Sdn Bhd, Ta Ann Holding Bhd, McDonalds, Huong Seng Motor Trading Sdn Bhd, TN Sports, Delta Leasing, Smart, Sibu AAA and Hii King Leng Foundation.