SIPITANG: Lumadan Assemblyman Matbali Musa hoped more people will take up archery and that Usia will make a recently-concluded competition an annual event due to its encouraging response.
He said he was excited by the participation of 20 teams from Sipitang, Kota Kinabalu, Kota Belud, Lahad Datu, other districts, Sarawak, Labuan and the peninsular in the first such event.
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“This archery competition is a traditional sport popular among the young and old alike, and it is just right if the event is organised annually,” he said.
The sport teaches collaboration and fosters unity, he said, so the competition should be improved to attract more participation.
The event will be more interesting, he said, if the participants wear elaborate traditional costumes that evoke the history of the Malays from long ago.
Matbali was speaking at the opening of a classic bicycle-riding event and closing of an archery contest at the Sipitang Top Ten Field, on Sunday. The PPBM Sipitang division chief also encouraged Muslim youth’s participation in Usia’s activities.
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“Their involvement is important as it can help attract the community to join Usia to do dakwah,” he said.
“This will also prevent youth’s involvement in negative elements such as drug abuse and immoral activities as well as encourage them to serve the religion.”
Matbali also hoped the classic bicycle-riding event will bring back the nostalgia of people from the past and was pleased to see the participation of over 100 youths and the (Chrome) Bicycle Association from Membakut and Papar.
