KUCHING: The long-awaited 2025 Sarawak Open Boxing Championships is set for a bombastic return on May 19 to 25, with this year’s edition hosted in Sri Aman.
Organised by the Sarawak Amateur Boxing Association (SABA), the tournament will feature three divisions: Elite, Junior, and Bakat.
The Elite category will be open to Asian countries, while Bakat and Junior is reserved for Malaysian boxers, SABA president Datuk Rahman Lariwoo confirmed.
“While the Bakat and Junior division is open exclusively for Malaysian boxers, the Elite division on the other hand is open to all participating Asian countries to join,” he told Sarawak Tribune on March 6.
Rahman then shared over eight nations have already expressed interest on participating whereas Singapore and Indonesia have confirmed their placement.
“As to date, we have extended an invitation to Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, India with on-going discussion for Middle Eastern participation, namely, Qatar,” he added.
Other Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal were also invited to join in the event.
The SABA president also revealed the championship will be officiated by Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah Abdul Karim.
Beyond the competition, Rahman emphasised the event’s role in talent scouting and assessing Sarawak’s boxing development.
“The competition will serve as an ideal platform to unearth more talented boxers in the state, a venue for the boxers to display their capabilities with the chance to be chosen for the backup squads.
“From there, we can also gauge on our home grown boxers’ performance and see how we can further improve their capabilities and prowess from there,” the boxing enthusiast exclaimed.
He then expressed his gratitude to Abdul Karim and his ministry, Sarawak Sports Corporation, Sarawak State Sports Council and the members of SABA for their utmost support in the development of Sarawak boxing.
Meanwhile for last year’s edition, the championship attracted 252 boxers and over 3,000 spectators, proving Sarawak’s ability to host a major sporting event.
With broader international participation expected this year, the organiser anticipates a more competitive tournament.
As the countdown begins, Sarawak is set to deliver another electrifying edition of its premier boxing event.
