Nanta (fifth left) presents a souvenir to a representative of one of the teams. Also seen are Maurice (second left), Ngalih (third left) and Churchill (fifth right)
KUCHING: Sports is for everyone and therefore all participants should put aside their political affiliation, says Kapit MP Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi.
He made this remarks when expressing his thought on how people can maintain racial harmony and unity through sports.
Nanta, who is also Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) secretary-general said he was touched by the presence of participants of various Dayak ethnicities at the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU) eighth President Cup badminton tournament held at Sentosa Sports Centre here.
When officiating at the opening of the tournament on Saturday, Nanta who is also SDNU deputy president presented RM10,000 in government grant to SDNU badminton technical and organising committee to hold the ninth edition of the tournament next year.
SDNU vice president Churchill Edward Drem who represented event organising chairman Datuk Paduka Anthony Nait Mani thanked participants for supporting SDNU’s annual activities.
Seventeen men’s teams competed for the championship cup and attractive cash prizes with some from as far as Kapit.
Fourteen women double teams competed for the SDNU women double champion title and attractive cash prizes.
Also present were political secretary to chief minister Maurice Giri and Kelab Badminton Kenyalang (KBK) president Petrus Ngalih Tingi.
SDNU engaged KBK as its technical service provider.
The tournament will end with a prize giving ceremony cum dinner at Awah Cafe at the DBNA headquarters here on Monday. Several GPS elected representatives will be present.