national sprint king Watson Nyambek.
KUCHING: About 700 athletes from 20 countries including Malaysia are competing in the two-day 31st Malaysian International Open Masters Athletics championships (MIOMAC) at the Sarawak Stadium starting today .
The opening ceremony will be officiated by the Chief Minister, Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg while a band from the Royal Malaysian Police will lead the march-past together with 200 bikers from the Borneo Big Bike Club in attendance.
Among the countries taking part are Brunei, Singapore, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Uzbbekiistan, South Africa, Hong Kong, India and Indonesia.
Sarawak athletes taking part include former national sprint king Watson Nyambek who will be running in his pet 100m event plus the 4x100m relay, former SEA Games hammer throw champion Wong Tee Kue and former State woman sprinter Liana Liew Sze Kiuk.
Watson, will be competing in the 40-44 age category where there are 20 competitors for the race.
According to Sarawak Masters Athletics Association (POMSAR) secretary Ahmad Rodzi Hashim the events will start in the morning at 8 am while the opening ceremony which will commenced at 2pm will be officiated by the Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari.
Also present at the ceremony will be the Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Snowdan Lawan and other sports officials from other countries.
Ahmad Rodzi said besides foreign participation the organisers are very pleased from the response from the local organisations and other states from Malaysia which include Unimas, PDRM, IPD (Kampus Pendidikan Islam) and States like Sabah, Wilayah Persekutuan, Selangor, Penang and Perak.
