SERIAN: The Serian Division marked the 10th stop for the Baton Relay in conjunction with the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) and Para SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024.
The Baton Run event, held today (June 16) at the State Government Office Complex grounds here, attracted more than 900 participants.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister Datuk Roland Sagah Wee Inn expressed hope that athletes from Serian would continue to make Sarawak proud by clinching gold medals.
“This year, the Serian Conference Center has been chosen as the venue for artistic gymnastics, offering 14 medals.
“We hope Sarawak can win all of them, as the Serian Division has contributed several international-level athletes to the national sports scene.
“Recently, an athlete from Serian, Bonnie Bunyau Gustin, brought honour to Malaysia on the international stage by clinching the title at the 2024 World Para Powerlifting Championships,” he said during the event’s officiation.
Sagah, who is also the Tarat assemblyman, also urged everyone to show sportsmanship and unity regardless of their state of origin.
“We, as Sarawakians, must set an example by upholding the spirit of unity,” he said.
The run was flagged off earlier by the Deputy Minister of Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development of Sarawak and Kedup Assemblyman Datuk Martin Ben.
Various programmes started as early as 7am, including aerobics, followed by the 4.05-kilometre Baton Relay led by two Sarawak sports icons, former national women’s hockey athlete Lisa Ludong and national bodybuilding champion Buda Anchah.
The event continued with Sagah officiating the Sarawak SUKMA XXI Baton Handover Ceremony, presented by the two sports icons.
Also present were Deputy State Secretary (Operations) and Chief Executive Officer of SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024 Datuk Hii Chang Kee, Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development permanent secretary Datuk Felicia Tan Ya Hua, and of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development deputy permanent secretary Dolhadi Marzuki.
