Northern Zone athletes urged to uphold sportsmanship at Suksar IV

BINTULU (Feb 4): A total of 305 members from the Northern Zone contingent have officially set off to participate in the Sarawak Games (Suksar) IV 2026, which will be held in Betong, Sri Aman, and Lubok Antu from Feb 5 to 8.

The send-off ceremony took place at Dewan Suarah Bintulu on Tuesday and was officiated by Tanjong Batu assemblyman Johnny Pang Leong Ming.

In his address, Pang called on the athletes to compete with discipline, courage and a high level of sportsmanship.

He said Suksar was not merely a sporting competition, but also an important platform for character building and shaping the future of Sarawak’s athletes.

“You carry the name of the Northern Zone. Winning or losing is part of sports, but what matters most is giving your best and upholding the true values of sportsmanship,” he said, according to a Sarawak Public Communications Unit report.

Pang also expressed appreciation to coaches, parents and the wider community for their continued support in the development of athletes in the Northern Zone.

For Suksar IV 2026, the Northern Zone contingent comprises 222 athletes – 71 from Bintulu, 107 from Miri, 41 from Limbang and three imported athletes from Kuching competing in the cycling event.

The contingent also includes a Chef-de-Mission (CDMs), three assistant CDMs, 36 secretariat members, as well as 43 team managers and coaches.

Also present were Jepak assemblyman Iskandar Turkee; Bintulu Division Resident and Northern Zone CDM Datu Nyurak Keti; Deputy Bintulu Resident Abang Zainuddin Abang Turkey; a representative of the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing; as well as officers from state and federal sports agencies.