KUCHING: The Sarawak government is encouraging local sports associations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to organise more international events in the state.
Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu said this is to enhance the development agenda and elevate the status of local sports.
“As you can see, Sarawak is the largest region in Malaysia but nevertheless faces challenges in terms of geographical distance from other states in the peninsula.
“Therefore, we also face difficulties in attracting talented athletes to come here to compete.
“Similarly, our group of talented young athletes also face the same dilemma because it is too expensive for sports associations, teams and even parents to send them to competitions in other places even in other states in Malaysia,” he said.
Rentap made these marks at the closing ceremony and prize presentation of the Sarawak International Open Tenpin Bowling Championship 2023 held at Megalanes E-Mart Batu Kawa here recently.
He added that the Sarawak government consistently supports the Amateur Bowling Association of Sarawak (ABAS) and their strategic partners namely the Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress (MTBC), Asian Bowling Federation (ABF) and the International Bowling Federation (IBF) in hosting world-class events in the state.
According to Rentap, such cooperation is highly welcomed to benefit the local community through sport-tourism related activities.
Meanwhile, Cheah Yung Ren from the Sunway Megalanes team was crowned the winner of the bowling championship.
He took home RM20,000 along with a trophy, which was presented by Rentap on behalf of the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Also present at the ceremony were Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) chief executive officer Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan, ABAS president Sunny Si Poh Heng and ABAS vice president Robert Lu.
