Ting Siew Nguong
SIBU: A total of 19 teams have so far confirmed their participation in the Sibu Open Athletics Championship to be held at Tun Ahmad Zaidi Stadium here on Sept 8 and 9.
The annual event, which offers cash prizes worth RM17,000 this year, is expected to attract athletes from throughout the nation.
Sibu Amateur Athletics Association (SAAA) is believed to be the only athletics association in the country to offer cash prizes to the first three winners of selected events. Over 900 athletes representing 65 teams across the country competed last year.
“Through the cash incentive scheme, we hope to attract as many participants as possible and to upgrade the standard of the sport,” said SAAA secretary Ting Siew Nguong.
Events which carry cash incentive are 100m (Open, Under-14 and Under-11), 80m hurdles, 100m hurdles and 110m hurdles (U14 and U11), discus (Open and U14), 800m (Open and U14), 400m (Open and U14), long jump (Open and U14), high jump (U14 and U11), 4x 100m (Open and U11) and the Super Men’s 100m which is for the runners weighing over 100kg.
The sponsors are KTS Sdn Bhd (100m Open, U14 and U18 categories and 800m), Ta Ann Holding Bhd (100m, U14 and U11), McDonald’s (80m, 100m and 110 hurdles for U14 and U11), Huong Seng Motor Trading Sdn Bhd (long jump for Open and U11), TN Sports (discus for Open and U14), Delta Leasing (400m Open and U14), Smart (high jump Open and U14 and U11), Sibu AAA (4 x 100m relay Open and U14) and Hii King Leng Foundation (Super Men’s 100m).
Each sponsor contributed RM1,200 cash incentives to the winners.
Cash incentives for new records are RM50 for Open category and RM20 for U14 and U11.
For team events, the champion for the Open category for both men’s and women’s events will receive RM500, first runner-up (RM300) and second runner-up (RM200).
Top three for Boy’s and Girl’s U14 will get RM300, RM200 and RM100.
For Boy’s and Girl’s U11, it will be RM200, RM150 and RM100.
Entry fees are RM3 for the open category, RM2 for U14 and U11, and RM5 for the team category.
Interested teams and athletes must register online at www.smis.event/Track and Field Online/Sibu Open Track and Field Championship 2017.
They can also contact Ting at telephone no. 0168881455 for enquiries.
The closing date for entry is Aug 18.