Sabah contingent marches into the venue during Sukma opening ceremony on Saturday. – Photo by MSN Sabah
SHAH ALAM (Aug 16): The Malaysia Games (Sukma) continue to play a vital role in fostering sportsmanship and strengthening bonds among athletes from across the country.
Minister of Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy (MYSpaCE) Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said this was evident from the vibrant atmosphere among participants and spectators at the opening ceremony of the Games on Saturday.
He noted that although the ceremony was held on a modest scale, the enthusiasm shown by participants reflected Sukma’s enduring role in bringing together athletes from different states.
“We could see the enthusiasm through the body language of the participants and spectators,” he said during the opening ceremony at Dataran Kemerdekaan Shah Alam.
Also present were Sabah State Secretary Datuk Zainuddin Aman, MYSpaCe assistant minister Datuk Seri Dr Anil Sandhu, permanent secretary-cum-Chef de Mission Datuk Mansur Asun, Sabah Sports Council director Mohd Asneh Mohd Noor and Sabah Sports Board chairman Syed Ahmad Syed Abas.
Nizam said the spirit of sportsmanship and friendship fostered through Sukma must be preserved to ensure the Games remain a relevant platform for unity among the younger generation.
He also congratulated Selangor for hosting the event.
On Sabah’s participation, Nizam urged the state athletes to remain focused and fully committed throughout the competition, which runs until Aug 24, to achieve the targets set during preparations.
“My hope is that the Sabah contingent competes with full commitment and focus so we can achieve the targets set from the beginning of our preparations,”he said.
He expressed confidence that the state contingent, backed by thorough preparations, could put up a strong challenge and return home with success.
For the record, Sabah contingent comprises 744 athletes and will compete in 36 of the 37 sports contested in the country’s premier multi-sport event.
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