Call to revive Sibu Marathon in 2026
Hii (centre) presides over the AGM with Sdaa secretary Ting Siew Nguong (left) and treasurer Kueh Tai Le.
SIBU (April 27): Sibu Division Amateur Athletic Association (SDAAA) is looking into the possibility of reviving the Sibu Marathon next year.
Its president Dr Gregory Hii Sui Cheng laments that what used to be an annual event has not been organised for more than a decade.
He said there were popular requests for the event as it can also help boost local tourism.
'As such, we are thinking of fixing the event either in April or May next year,' he added at Sdaaa annual general meeting held at SMK Sacred Heart on Friday night.
The Sdaa views that the biggest challenge in organising the event is finance.
'We will need at least RM50,000 to host the event in order to attract foreign participants such as those from Kenya and Ethiopia,' Hii said in recognition that these Africans are mostly professional runners who scout for marathon events promising big prizes.
'If we offer big prizes money, it will surely attract African runners to come and participate. We may introduce different categories in order to benefit the local runners also,' he remarked.
On Sdaaa activities for the year, Hii said their premier event, the Sibu Open Track and Field, will be held at Stadium Tun Zaidi on Sept 6-7.
'Last year, we managed to get 1,108 athletes from throughout the country and, hopefully this year, we will beat that figure,' he added.
The number of sponsored events for the Sibu Open remains at 10 but Sdaa are looking for new sponsors so as to have more sponsored events.
Other activities for the year include the Technical Official Examination on April 26 and the Level 1 World Athletics coaching course from Oct 13-17.
The coaching course is limited to 20 participants and registration is on first-come-first-served basis.
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