Miri to host Sarawak Int’l Boxing Championship in May 2026

Dato Rahman Lariwoo (file pic)

By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, Jan 25: Miri will host the Sarawak International Boxing Championship 2026, with organisers targeting participation from 13 countries when the tournament takes place at the Miri Indoor Stadium in May this year.

Sarawak Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) president Dato Rahman Lariwoo said boxers from the Philippines, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Indonesia and several Malaysian states have confirmed their participation, although the exact dates for the championship have yet to be finalised.

“The championship will serve as a key preparation platform for Sarawak’s boxers ahead of the Selangor’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) in August, providing valuable exposure against international competition,” he said in a statement.

He added that the event is also expected to boost tourism in Miri through the influx of foreign teams and visitors, and called on corporate bodies and the private sector, particularly in Miri, to support SABA in ensuring the success of the championship.

The tournament will be organised by SABA in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak (MYSED) and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak (MTCP).

On Sukma preparations, Rahman said shortlisted athletes will undergo intensive training in Indonesia and the Philippines, with programmes scheduled in Pontianak and Jakarta in June, followed by a month-long stint in Manila in July.

“The final list of athletes will be confirmed after the Sarawak Games (SUKSAR) IV, with nine male and three female boxers to be selected to represent Sarawak, including several athletes from the Sukma 2024 squad,” he added. – DayakDaily