KUCHING: They came from different corners of Sarawak, from rural communities to small towns, but all shared the same dream of making their mark beyond the borders of their homeland.
As Sarawak Day is celebrated, national athletes shared how their roots continue to inspire their pursuit of excellence, with values such as resilience, humility and determination remaining at the heart of their sporting journeys.
Sarawak Tribune spoke to four Sarawakian athletes who have proudly donned national colours, as they shared how the values instilled in them from their homeland continue to drive their pursuit of excellence on the international stage.
Nur Hazirah Ramli has always viewed Sarawak as the starting point of her sporting journey.
The Kuching-born national bowler said her upbringing in Sarawak taught her to appreciate every opportunity while understanding that success requires patience, hard work and perseverance.
“Growing up in Sarawak taught me to stay humble and appreciate every opportunity. It also showed me the importance of resilience and hard work because success doesn’t happen overnight,” she said.
Hazirah added that the support from her family, coaches and local bowling community gave her the confidence to pursue the sport seriously.
“Sarawak will always be where my journey began. The support from my family, coaches and local bowling community gave me the confidence to pursue the sport seriously. Their belief in me continues to motivate me whenever I compete,” she said.
Meanwhile, Miri-born national squash player Harith Danial said his upbringing shaped his appreciation of Sarawak’s multicultural identity.
The two-time SEA Games gold medallist said being surrounded by different ethnic groups, languages and traditions taught him to respect people from various backgrounds.
“My upbringing in Sarawak taught me to appreciate diversity and respect people from different backgrounds. Sarawak is a very multicultural state, with many different ethnic groups, languages and traditions living together in harmony,” he said.
Harith credited his upbringing for developing his resilience as an athlete, particularly in learning to maximise every opportunity despite having fewer facilities compared to bigger cities.
“Compared to bigger cities, there were fewer sports facilities and opportunities, so I had to make the most of every chance to train and compete.
“This taught me to be resourceful, disciplined and to never take opportunities for granted,” he said.
National discus thrower Queenie Ting Kung Ni credits her hometown of Sarikei for giving her the space to focus on her own journey and develop without being distracted by comparisons.
The athlete said growing up in a smaller town allowed her to concentrate on her studies and training while building her confidence step by step.
“I’m from Sarikei, Sarawak, a small town with a slower pace of life. During that time, I was able to just focus on school and training without comparing myself to others,” she said.
Queenie added that the experience reminded her of the importance of staying committed to her own path.
Jonathan Nyepa, a member of the Malaysian quartet that set the national 4x100m relay record of 39.03 seconds, said his rural upbringing shaped his resilience and gratitude throughout his journey as an athlete.
He said coming from a smaller community taught him to value every opportunity and continue working hard despite challenges.
“Growing up in Uma Badeng, Sungai Koyan, Asap, Belaga taught me resilience and gratitude. Life in a rural community meant we had to appreciate what we had and work hard for every opportunity,” he said.
The 30-year-old said his journey was also driven by a desire to inspire young athletes from rural areas to believe their dreams are possible.
“Coming from a small rural community in Belaga, I wanted to show that your background does not determine your future,” he said.
From Kuching and Miri to Sarikei and rural Belaga, the journeys of these four athletes reflect the diverse backgrounds that continue to shape Sarawak’s sporting landscape.
Sarawak is more than just a birthplace for them. It is where their values were formed, dreams were nurtured and determination was built, giving them the strength to carry the state’s pride whenever they represent Malaysia.
