Saturday, 26 July 2025

State govt to continue backing international boxing tournaments, affirms minister

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Karim (fifth left) poses for a photo with Kilat Boy and other dignitaries.

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KUCHING: The Sarawak government through the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) will continue to support the Sarawak Boxing Association (SABA) in organising international boxing tournaments.

Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said his ministry’s commitment extends beyond boxing to encompass various sports initiatives.

“We will continue to support this kind of tournament but it goes back to the organising association. If they are willing to organise and involve athletes or boxers from Malaysia, we are ready to organise the tournaments.

“This is because to some extent, it will garner more interest in boxing and also help our tourism industry,” he said.

He said this when met by the media after the closing ceremony of the World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia Championship 2024 at the Indoor Stadium, Petra Jaya here last night.

In light of Sarawak’s own Daeloniel McDelon Bong, also known as Kilat Boy, clinching the World Boxing Confederation (WBC) Asia Super Bantamweight title against his Thai counterpart, Yuttihchai Wannawong, Karim expressed congratulations.

He hailed Kilat Boy’s victory as a catalyst for heightened youth engagement in boxing.

“We know they need a sports icon like Kilat Boy for the youth to showcase their talent. Looking at both Daeloniel and Jojo (Muhammad Johan Ghazali Zulfikar) proves that whether in muay thai or boxing, we are certainly improving.

“This will increase the interest of our youth in these two sports,” he added.

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