KUCHING – The long-awaited return of the Borneo Games after a 12-year hiatus is proving to be more than just a sporting contest, it’s a vital platform for nurturing emerging athletes across Borneo.
Held from 24 to 28 September 2025 at the Petra Jaya Sports Complex, the event features eight disciplines: swimming, athletics, badminton, lawn bowls, archery, tug-of-war, blowpipe, and golf.
Yap Jia Jun, Head Coach of the Labuan swimming contingent, praised the tournament’s structure, noting its value in preparing young athletes for higher-level competitions like SUKMA and the SEA Games.
“It is a very good development event because it has a screen and a final match,” he said during a session at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre, a state-of-the-art facility equipped with Olympic-standard pools and diving platforms.
Representatives from Sabah, East Kalimantan, Brunei, and Sarawak have all fielded strong teams, intensifying the level of competition.
Benjamin Lee, Sabah’s Swimming Team Manager, welcomed the inclusion of swimming, a first for the Borneo Games, calling it “a good start” for regional talent pipelines.
East Kalimantan’s coach, Sudarman, highlighted the international exposure for his athletes and commended Kuching’s hospitality, from airport reception to accommodation.
The Games, originally launched in 1955 and last hosted in Labuan in 2013, aim to reinforce cultural and sporting ties across Borneo.
