06-07-2025
Games week chance to reconnect
University of Canterbury student Ayu Razali meets the Otago and Southland Chinese Association lion at the 2025 Bersatu Games carnival yesterday. PHOTOS: PETER MCINTOSH
Nearly 300 Malay students from across New Zealand descended on Dunedin recently to compete in a games week steeped in tradition.
The Otago Malaysian Students' Association hosted the Bersatu games in Dunedin over the last week.
About 280 Malaysian students from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch took part.
The participants celebrated a successful games week at the closing ceremony and carnival at the University of Otago Union Hall yesterday.
The event's executive director Sofea Haizal said the games, which could be traced back to the 1960s, brought together Malay university students and alumni to participate in sports and activities.
Dunedin resident Michael Glover plays the Gamelan at the carnival.
She said it felt good to be taking part in the games which her parents once helped host in Dunedin.
"It's kind of cool that now that I'm at uni I get that opportunity to take part and it's also a good way for me to reconnect with my culture and my roots as well."
The games included football, futsal and basketball as well as e-sports this year.
It did not matter that Otago failed to win the games because it was a lot of fun and a great way to make new friends, Ms Haizal said.
The Malaysian students from the University of Canterbury were the overall winners.
