MIRI: Silat athletes competing in SUKMA 2024 are told to use the competition as a stepping stone towards higher success at the regional and international levels.
Deputy Minister for Youth, Sport, and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat said SUKMA provides a platform to sharpen their skills and prepare for higher level competitions.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the silat competition at the Miri Indoor Stadium on Sunday.
He highlighted that Miri is hosting six sports events in this year’s SUKMA, including softball, karate, rugby, fencing, sailing, and silat. The silat competition will see 28 gold medals up for grabs.
“We encourage all participating athletes to use this event as an opportunity to push their skills to greater heights,” Dr Ripin added.
Meanwhile, he also stressed the importance of SUKMA in strengthening ties among universities in Malaysia and Brunei, particularly in the silat discipline.
“This is a venue to foster and strengthen the connections between all silat practitioners,” he said.
At the same time, he expressed hope that SUKMA, being held in Sarawak will be impactful for the athletes, coaches and the Miri community in general.
“The SUKMA inauguration last night was a spectacular display of Sarawak’s commitment to sports excellence.
“We hope to secure as many gold medals as possible and continue this momentum as we prepare to co-host the SEA Games in 2027,” he concluded.
The Minister for Transport Sarawak, Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, was also present at the event.
