Muaythai Cup spotlights Bintulu

BINTULU: Bintulu is looking to strengthen its profile as a sports tourism destination through the hosting of the 10th edition of the Muaythai Premier Sarawak Cup, which has attracted participants from Malaysia and overseas.

Sarawak Muaythai Association (PMNS) president Jumaat Ibrahim said hosting sporting events could help raise the profile of Bintulu, Miri and Sibu among visitors and international sporting communities.

“Some people in Peninsular Malaysia are still more familiar with Kuching than Bintulu, Miri and Sibu.

“Through tournaments like this, we can introduce these towns to participants and delegates from overseas,” he said when speaking at the participant introduction ceremony for the 10th edition of the Muaythai Premier Sarawak Cup at NAIM Street Mall Paragon, on Thursday (Oct 16).

He said the participation of athletes and delegations from outside Sarawak presented an opportunity to showcase Bintulu and strengthen its potential as a venue for international sporting events.

The tournament, from Oct 15 to 18, is expected to feature about 300 athletes from 29 clubs representing six Malaysian states and eight countries.

The participating states are Sarawak, Sabah, Terengganu, Selangor, Pahang and Johor, while the international contingent includes Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Yemen, Iran, Spain, Colombia and Syria.

He said the continued development of sports in the state required close cooperation between sports associations, the private sector and the community.

“Cooperation between sports associations, the private sector and the community is important to ensure more competitions can be organised, giving local athletes opportunities to improve their performance and gain competition experience,” he said.

He said Muaythai competitions held in Bintulu, Miri and Sibu could help introduce the towns to more visitors and contribute to Sarawak’s broader ambition of becoming a sports hub.