SARIKEI: The prestigious sporting event that is the Malaysian Games (SUKMA) and Para SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024 is now making its presence felt in the Sarikei Division.

Sarikei became the seventh destination of the baton relay to promote the biennial sports event which will take place from August 17 to 24. 

The good weather fueled the spirit of the baton relay participants consisting of some 500 runners who gathered at the Kampung Seberang Integrated Sports Complex as early as 6.30 a.m. 

The relay was led by two sports icons, namely Ibrahim Japar and Lu Teck Yii, running a distance of 4.4 kilometres which started and ended at the Kampung Seberang Integrated Sports Complex.

Tanjong Manis Member of Parliament, Ir Yusuf Abdul Wahab and other distinguished guests were present to officiate the symbolic flag-off of the run after participating in an aerobics session for 30 minutes.

This edition of SUKMA involves 488 events across 37 types of sports that will be contested, comprising 236 men's category events, 217 women's events and 35 mixed events.

The biennial sports event will  bring together a total of 12,619 athletes and officials from all over Malaysia. -UKASnews