Kangar: The Sabah contingent emerged as the overall champions of the 65th Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Athletics Championship this year after collecting 19 gold, 22 silver, and 17 bronze medals.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah received the championship challenge trophy, the Milo-sponsored accompanying trophy, and RM1,500 worth of vouchers sponsored by Clamor. These were presented by the Deputy Secretary-General (Planning and Development) of the Education Ministry (MOE), Datuk Wan Hashim Wan Rahim, at the closing ceremony of the championship at the Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium today.

The championship, which began on August 19 and concluded today, saw participation from about 1,400 athletes representing 16 state contingents. The events spanned categories including under-12, under-15, and under-18.

In his closing speech, Wan Hashim highlighted that the MSSM championship served as a platform to discover young sporting talents while reflecting MOE’s commitment to nurturing and developing youth potential through sports. He emphasized that sports at the school level, particularly in the MSSM Championship, is foundational for building character and instilling values such as teamwork and a fighting spirit. Each year, the championship showcases emerging student-athletes who become the nation’s future hopes.

Additionally, Wan Hashim mentioned the 1 Student 1 Sport Policy, which aligns with the ‘Sports for All’ concept, encouraging students to actively participate in sports as part of a healthy lifestyle. ‘Sports for Excellence’ focuses on enhancing the performance of student-athletes and supporting their participation in the MSSM Championship.