Nanta (centre) presenting the prize money to the men’s (standing) category winner, Bong Chon Kui from SDNU Sarawak on Sunday night. Also seen is SDNU vice-president Anthony Banyan (left).
KUCHING: The Sarawak Invitational Blowpipe Carnival is set to be held on a bigger scale from next year to attract more participants from around the world.
At the conclusion of the two-day carnival in Le’Park recently, a blowpipe competition was held to pick the best contestant in Borneo.
“This carnival can also act as the melting pot for all our Borneon friends who are here in Kuching to mingle as well as strengthening our century-old relationship,” said Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) deputy president Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi during the prize presentation ceremony at a leading restaurant here on Sunday night.
He also said winning or losing in the competition is secondary to the spirit of sportsmanship as shown by all the 89 participants from Sarawak (six teams) and Kalimantan, Indonesia (two teams).
Nanta, who represented SDNU president cum Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom at the event, further said more invites and promotional activities would be held prior to the start of next year’s carnival.
Meanwhile, winning the men’s (standing) category was Bong Chon Kui from SDNU Sarawak, followed by Lahan Suhaili from team 6th D Blowpipers in second place and Paul Sawai from Urau Tutoh in third.
In the men’s (kneeling) category, the winner was Badun Nakas (Team Menyumpit Bau), second was Meli Tintang (Raja Remong, Kota Samarahan) and third was Poria Abun (SDNU Sarawak).
Winner of the women’s
(standing) category was Benone Akim (SDNU Sarawak) with Linda Kiat (Team Menyumpit Bau) and Maria Ho (Raja Remong, Kota Samarahan) first and second runners-up respectively.
In the women’s (kneeling) category, the winner was Sophia Tunjin (6th D Blowpipers). In second and third places were Inda Ahoi (Raja Remong, Kota Samarahan) and Tepi Mata (Team Menyumpit Bau) respectively.
Each winner of the four categories went home with a cash prize of RM500 while first and second runners-up took home RM400 and RM300 respectively.
In the men’s, women’s and mixed doubles category, the champion’s prize was RM1,000 while second and third place winners received RM800 and RM600 respectively.
Winning the men’s doubles were Mohamad Asky and Blisi Langai (Urau Tutuh). Second was the pair of Gordon Minggan and Nelson George Lansam (SDNU Sarawak) while Leo Dedy Anjiu and Benny Budi Anjiu (Sekberkesda Kalbar Indonesia) finished in third place.
In the women’s doubles, the winning pair was Magdalene Dominic and Mahani Adam (Team Menyumpit Bau), defeating Julida Juin and Mariam Sabai (SDNU Sarawak) and Edah Abat and Anita Gabriel (6th D Blowpipers) who finished in second and third places respectively.
The mixed doubles was won by Paul Tuah and Imbau Leo (6th D Blowpipers). Poria Abun and Benone Akim (SDNU Sarawak) and Badun Nakas and Tepi Mata (Team Menyumpit Bau)
were second and third respectively.
Also held was the crowning of a Kumang which went to Benone Akim who won herself the cash prize of RM1,000 while the Keling title was won by Badun Nakas who went home with the same amount of cash prize.
Meanwhile, the carnival was organised by the Ministry of Social Development in collaboration with SDNU and Tourism Malaysia.