SRI AMAN: Changing standings and the absence of a clear dominant zone highlighted the increasingly balanced level of competition at the Sarawak Games (SUKSAR) IV, which featured athletes from the Northern, Central, Western and Southern zones.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the overall standings reflected the serious and sometimes unseen preparation carried out by each zone.
He described the level of competition as “bergigit” (neck-to-neck), noting that while the Southern Zone emerged as overall champions at the previous SUKSAR, this year’s title was claimed by new champions, the Northern Zone.
“What we are seeing now is the result of preparations that may not be obvious to many, including training programmes that are done quietly behind the scenes,” he said in his address at the SUKSAR IV closing ceremony at the Sri Aman Indoor Stadium, here today.
He noted that the emergence of unexpected winners in several sports showed that no zone could be taken lightly.
“There are events where the results surprised us, and this proves that every zone has its own strategy and ‘secret training’ that we may not know about,” he said.
According to Abdul Karim, such developments are positive for Sarawak’s sporting landscape as they encourage healthy competition, higher standards and better long-term athlete development.
SUKSAR IV featured four competing zones — Northern, Central, Western and Southern — with athletes contesting 11 sports across three host locations.
Betong hosted weightlifting, cycling, netball and taekwondo, while Sri Aman staged basketball, petanque, table tennis, softball and boxing events. Sepak takraw and karate competitions were held in Lubok Antu.
