BINTULU: The 2024 Bintulu Bumiputra Table Tennis Championship, held at the Bintulu Division Table Tennis Association Hall here recently, concluded with an exciting final that saw Zulkipli Saali emerge as the champion.
Richard Umut settled for second place in the two-day competition, organised by the Bintulu Division Table Tennis Association, that attracted 27 participants from across Sarawak.
The players came from various divisions, including Kuching, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri.
This year’s tournament was particularly significant as it marked the first time Bintulu Division hosted an open competition welcoming participants from all corners of Sarawak.
The championship followed a structured format, with players divided into four groups during the first round.
The top two players from each group, both champions and runners-up, advanced to the quarter-finals, which were held in a knockout format.
The competition aimed to promote table tennis among Bumiputra players and encourage broader participation in the sport.
“We hope this competition will spark greater interest among Bumiputra athletes and contribute to the growth of table tennis in Sarawak,” said an official from the organising committee.
