SABAH HONOURS ITS BEST ATHLETES

AWARDS.....Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin (centre) and Chief Minister Musa Aman together with the Awards recipients. Also seen, Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (first row, third right), State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman (first row, second right) and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan (first row, third left).

By ELAINE MAH

ENTERING its 25th year, the Sabah Sports Awards represents Sabah’s acknowledgment and appreciation of the sportsmen and sportswomen who have done the state proud in sports and athletics.

In his speech at the Awards presentation function attended by Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman said Sabah has a lot to be proud of in the sporting arena, as over the years, many Sabah athletes have achieved a great number of successes in their respective fields.

Among the award winners is the Sabah football team, who won the Gold medal at the 15th Malaysia Games in Pahang last year, the first victory in 26 years.

In golf, golfers from Sabah won four gold medals at the 15th Malaysia Games – a clean sweep in the event. Sabah’s weightlifting team also shined at the Games where its athlete bagged the Best Sportswoman Award.

Musa urged all parties in the sporting arena to take a holistic approach and prepare long-term plans to further uplift the quality of sports in the State.

“An athlete’s performance does not depend solely on his or her physical and mental strength. A systematic training, quality management and a scientific approach also plays a role,” he said.

The Chief Minister hopes that the Awards will further encourage Sabah's athletes to strive harder to succeed in sports.

26-year-old Leong Tze Wai bagged the coveted Best Sportsman Award, and 22-year-old Frenceay Titus the Best Sportswoman award. Leong won two karate Bronze medals at the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia and a gold medal at the World Karate Cup in Korea. Weightlifter Frenceay broke two Malaysia Games record and one national record at the 15th Malaysia Games. (Insight Sabah)