Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Netball Association (Sabana) is actively carrying out new talent search activities in the State.
Its president, Chendramata Sinteh, said the programme is to identify the next generation of athletes through various tournaments hosted by the Sabah School Sports Council (MSSS), Sabah Games (Saga) and open tournaments alongside athletes from national sports schools.
“These potential athletes are identified by the coaches at the school or district level before being selected to represent the State. This year we have the opportunity to send a team to participate in the Malaysian Games (Sukma). “It is a success for the coaches because they are able to highlight the State, national and international athletes where currently a Sabahan athlete is representing Malaysia at the Asian level,” she said during the opening ceremony of the 2022 Toh Puan Netball Championship.
The opening ceremony for the two-day event on Saturday at the Sabah Foundation building here was officiated by the Head of State’s wife, Toh Puan Datuk Seri Norlidah R.M Jasni.
The ninth tournament was attended by 19 teams from various ministries, departments, agencies and government-related companies (GLC) aimed at popularising the sport of netball.
Four District Education Offices took part, namely Kota Marudu, Beaufort, Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan as well as the Labuan Federal Territory Department of Education.
Meanwhile, Sabah Public Works Department, the Malaysian Rubber Industry Board, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, the Farmers Organisation Board, Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic, Sedafiat Sdn Bhd and the Kota Kinabalu Health Office also participated in the event which was delayed for two years.
Not to be left out are Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, the Ministry of Industrial Development, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (K-KOM), Kota Kinabalu City Hall, and the Malaysian Prisons Department.
