KUCHING: Anticipation is building as everyone eagerly awaits the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA), particularly the grand opening ceremony on Saturday (Aug 17) night.
For Nur Hidayah Saman from Selendang Abadi Jati Sports Martial Arts Club, being chosen to participate in the opening ceremony, is an opportunity of a lifetime that she couldn’t pass up.
“Being part of SUKMA’s opening ceremony is a dream come true. It is an honour to represent my club and showcase our traditional martial art on such a prestigious stage,” the 15-year-old told New Sarawak Tribune.
Nur Hidayah and her fellow club members have been diligently rehearsing for months to ensure their performance captures the essence of silat and leaves a lasting impression on the audience.
“This is my first time being selected to represent my club at such a major event. We have invested a lot of hard work into our performance, and the journey has been incredibly rewarding,” she said.
Meanwhile, fellow club member Zamani Rashyid Kamalludin admitted to feeling nervous about the grand opening ceremony.
Like many of the performers, he said he understands the significance of the event and is determined to give his best performance.
“This is a huge stage, and the pressure is definitely there. But I am also excited because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
“The support and encouragement from our coaches and parents have really helped to calm my nerves. We want to make our club proud and contribute to an unforgettable ceremony,” he said.
Principal master of silat Mohd Rahathir Hassan revealed that a total of 100 students from the club will be participating in the opening ceremony.
“Our participants range from as young as six to 24 years old. It is inspiring to see different age brackets coming together to represent our club and showcase of silat on this grand stage,” he said.
Commending his students’ dedication and discipline, Mohd Rahathir said their hard work over the past few months has fully prepared them for this moment.
He thanked the parents for their unwavering support, which has been instrumental in the students’ journey.
“Each student is unique, and the younger ones can sometimes feel overwhelmed. But with the encouragement from their parents and the guidance from our senior members, they have all grown in confidence and skill,” he said.
At the same time, club president Masri Selhi expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to be part of the opening ceremony.
He said the collaborative spirit within the club has brought everyone closer together.
“We are truly thankful to have been given this chance to participate in such a prestigious event. The preparation has been a team effort and seeing the enthusiasm and hard work from everyone has been truly rewarding.
“We are looking forward to making a memorable contribution to the opening ceremony,” he said.
