KUCHING: Host Sarawak Foundation aims to be the overall champion at the 14th Malaysia Inter-State Foundation Sports Carnival (PESAYA), Sarawak 2022.
The carnival will take place from Feb 10 to 19. The foundation previously hosted it in 2013.
The Sarawak flag was handed over by State Secretary and deputy chairman of Sarawak Foundation Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki to the contingent’s chef de mission Noranne Adam Assim at Dewan Jamilah, Sarawak Foundation, here, today (Feb 2).
She will lead a team of 163 athletes.
The biennial sports competition, which has been held since 1991, aims to strengthen ties between state foundations through a common goal of sportsmanship and camaraderie.
In his speech, Mohamad Abu Bakar stressed the importance of sportsmanship and treating all participants as friends, not just as opponents.
“We have a great responsibility as the host state to make this year’s PESAYA a success,” he said.
“We hope to be the overall champion, but more importantly, we want to come together with all participating states and celebrate the spirit of unity in diversity through sports,”
The PESAYA logo depicts the iconic kenyalang bird, a symbol of Sarawak, and the carnival carries the slogan ‘Unity in Diversity Through Sports’.
The 14th edition of PESAYA is set to feature the participation of 12 other state foundations, namely Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Selangor, Terengganu and Federal Territories.
The games comprise sports, such as football, badminton, handball, netball, volleyball, tenpin bowling, golf, carom and takraw.
Also present were Sarawak Foundation director Mersal Abang Rosl and deputy directors Mohd Adzlie Ibrahim and Louis Simon Peter.
