By Jaythaleela K
MIRI, Aug 1: The second edition of Sukan Sarawak, or Suksar, will introduce eSports among the 16 hosted events this year.
Suksar 2019, to be held in Miri, will take place on Dec 9-14.
A total of 1,508 athletes will compete in the 16 sporting events namely weight lifting, badminton, cycling, basketball, netball, hockey, archery, athletics, petanque, rugby, sepak takraw, silat, squash, boxing, volleyball and eSports.
“Suksar 2019 will be the first admittance for eSports, with three gold medals up for grabs.
“On a whole, Suksar provides the best platform for us to unearth and identify new talents,” Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan told a press conference here today.
He added that Suksar also provide an important training ground for Sarawak contingent and other local athletes in preparation or eyeing for a spot in next year’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Johor.
“Sukma is challenging but we are optimistic with the ability of our athletes, especially with the exposure gained from Suksar,” he continued.
Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is scheduled to open the event at its official launching ceremony on Dec 8.
Miri Stadium will host the athletics event, while the weight lifting programme would be held at Imperial Mall.
Badminton will be held at Tung Sports Hall, basketball at SMK Pei Min, while volleyball and sepak takraw will take place at Miri Indoor Stadium.
Coco Cabana will host cycling and Kelab Rekreasi Petroleum Miri will host hockey. Archery will take place at the Teacher’s Training College at Jalan Bakam, while rugby will be held at Petronas Field and Curtin University.
Other venues included Giant Permai shopping mall (silat), Pei Min squash courts (squash), Permaisuri Mall (boxing) and Eternity E-Sports Arena in Piasau for the newly introduced (eSports).
Suksar, open for athletes aged 19 and below, is divided into four zones namely Northern Zone (Miri, Limbang, Bintulu), Central Zone (Mukah, Kapit, Sibu), Western Zone (Sarikei, Betong, Sri Aman) and Southern Zone (Kuching, Serian and Samarahan).
“Those who had competed in the previous Sukma or represented the country at international competitions are not allowed to participate.
“Local athletes who have represented other states are also not eligible to compete in Suksar,” said Snowdan, who is also the games organising chairman.
Also present was Miri district officer Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf was also present.
The first edition of the revamped Suksar made its comeback in 2017, after a 27-year hiatus. The games was revived to unearth new talents, provide exposure for budding athletes, as well as for Sukma preparation.
The biennial event, held in between Sukma, was previously hosted by Kuching. — DayakDaily
