Sabah participated in the Olympics – as North Borneo
Published on: Saturday, August 07, 2021
By: GL Oh
.jpg "Sabah participated in the Olympics – as North Borneo")
The North Borneo contingent led by Khoo (second right) and other members with (squatting from left) Sium and Gabuh at the Melbourne Olympics in 1956.
Kota Kinabalu: A historical fact some may not be aware of – in 1956, Sabah then known as North Borneo had participated in the Melbourne Summer Olympics in Australia.It was the only Olympic appearance by North Borneo, then a British colony, before it gained independence and together with Malaya, Singapore and Sarawak formed the federation of Malaysia in 1963.
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The North Borneo contingent was led by the late Datuk Seri Khoo Siak Chew from Sandakan, father of current Sabah Golf Association President Datuk Peter Khoo.
Datuk Gabuh Piging and Datuk Sium Diau were the only athletes qualified for the Games and both competed in the triple jump event.
Gabuh, who was then 24, finished in 24th place with a distance of 14.55m, while 21-year-old Sium Diau was placed in 28th position with 14.09m.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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“I remembered we had many photos and souvenirs from the Melbourne Olympics kept by my late father in our home, but unfortunately all had been lost over the years,” he said.
