SIBU, Nov 19: Track and field events will not be included in the 2024 Sukan Sarawak (Suksar).
“Most of the athletes for these events are currently in Form 5 and they will be sitting for their SPM. So we don’t want to disturb them until March next year. This is why we did not include this (track and field events) in Suksar next year,” said Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu.
He told reporters this after officiating at the closing ceremony of Sibu Open Track and Field Championship 2023 at Azman Hashim Sports Complex today.
A total of 900 athletes from Sarawak, Johor and Brunei participated in the championships organised by Sibu Division Amateur Athletics Association.
Separately, Rentap said that they were also taking the championship as an opportunity to test the timing system for the upcoming 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma).
“In the meantime, we are testing our electronic timing system. If we don’t test, we won’t know, and considering we have about 250 days left (to Sukma), this is our platform not only in terms of preparation, scouting new athletes, new talents, and so on.
“We also want to assess our technical preparations (through championships like this). Most of all, we hope to have more technical officers from Sarawak. So, we are not bringing in from abroad,” he said.
Rentap thanked all donors who supported the championship.
“We hope that with the collaboration from Sibu Division Amateur Athletics Association and Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), we will give more exposure and find more talents (athletes) especially with Sukma next year,” he said. — DayakDaily
