Tapah Ata presents the Untangjaya Challenge Trophy to Bukit Sebaning captain Joseph Belayong who is also Kapit Division Resident as (from left) Edward, Nicholas and Joseph Belayong look on.
KAPIT: Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Tapah Ata was impressed that as many as 70 Dayak Iban players from seven teams signed up for the Sadia Kapit Closed Badminton Championships held recently at the Bletih Stadium.
He cited the current SEA Games held in Kuala Lumpur that all Malaysians irrespective of social or religious background could unite to support the national athletes.
“This badminton competitions able to register 70 Dayak Iban players. I believe we have the talented badminton players among the players. Badminton game is not just to bring people together but to keep one healthy and a good way to spend the leisure hours after the day’s hard work”, he observed concerning the week-long tournament.
Meanwhile, Sadia chairman Edward Manggah said the competition was one of the Sadia Kapit’s annual events to unite the Dayak Iban and unearth talent among Iban players.
He also revealed that Sadia Kapit is looking for a piece of land and soon launching a fund-raising campaign to build a multi-purpose hall to host social activities.
Also speaking at the function was Political Secretary to the Chief Minister Nicholas Kudi Jantai.
The tournament ended with Team Bukit Sebaning as champions with Bukit Seranggil runners-up while Bukit Mabong and Bukit Goram were joint third. The prizes included the challenge trophy sponsored by Untangjaya Sdn Bhd and electrical appliances.
Edward, organising chairman John Lang and Special Branch Officer ASP Chua Su Hua later attended the closing ceremony held at the D’ Country Café, Jalan Ulu Sungai Selirik here last night.