KUCHING – Sarawak athletes celebrated double glory at the Borneo Games Kuching 2025 when two young swimmers, Puong Wei Hii and Chereen Yirui Ngo, were honoured as the Best Male and Best Female Athletes of the tournament.
Their outstanding performances capped off a successful campaign for the Sarawak contingent, which showcased depth, talent, and determination across various sporting events. Both athletes were recognised at the closing ceremony held at Penview Convention Centre (PCC) Demak on Sunday, in the presence of Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.
In his speech, Abang Zohari expressed his strong support for the proposal to open the Borneo Games to international participation in future editions, saying it would allow athletes from Borneo to measure themselves against global standards.
“I also support the proposal by Sarawak Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, that if possible, the Games should be opened or extended by invitation to other countries. This will enable us to evaluate our standards against global sporting benchmarks,” he said.
The Premier also stressed that the Borneo Games should not only be viewed as a sporting competition but as a platform to strengthen friendship, understanding, and solidarity among participating states and regions.
Sarawak’s Sporting Commitment
Abang Zohari reaffirmed the Sarawak Government’s long-term commitment to sports development, citing preparations for the SEA Games 2027, which the state will co-host. The opening ceremony of the regional event is set to be held in Kuching.
Major upgrades are underway, including the construction of a new Athletes’ Village, a velodrome, and a motorsport circuit, all of which will serve as investments in nurturing discipline, resilience, and competitiveness among Sarawak’s younger generation.
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim revealed that two states from Peninsular Malaysia had expressed interest in joining this year’s edition of the Borneo Games. However, participation was limited to regions within Borneo. He hinted that in the future, organisers may consider inviting regions or countries outside Borneo, making the event even more competitive.
“For sports, the more competition there is, the better it is for our athletes. By opening it up, it will provide stiffer competition which will help improve performance, preparations, and readiness,” he said.
Dignitaries in Attendance
The ceremony was attended by several prominent figures, including Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development; Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, Chairman of Borneo Games Kuching 2025; Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, Head of Sarawak Contingent; Dato Seri Setia Awang Nazmi Awang Mohamad, Brunei Darussalam Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; Datuk Ellron Angin, Sabah Minister of Youth and Sports; and other regional delegates.
The recognition of Puong Wei Hii and Chereen Yirui Ngo not only symbolised Sarawak’s strength in aquatics but also reflected the state’s vision to elevate sports onto the international stage through platforms like the Borneo Games. – UKAS