SRI AMAN: Some 75 participants from 15 teams took part in the Datuk Francis Harden Bumiputera Ping Pong Team Challenge Trophy which ended recently.
The two-day competition held at the multi-purpose hall of the Fire and Rescue Department here saw Serian Division Ping Pong Association emerged the champion, beating WIB Petra Jaya Ping Pong Club in the final. In third placing was WIB Petra Jaya B Ping Pong Club, after beating Kuching Bumiputera Association into fourth place.
Assistant Minister of Community Wellbeing, Datuk Francis Harden Hollis was present to officiate at the prizepresentation ceremony.
In his speech, Harden hoped that the sport could be promoted in a systematic way, from the school level right up to divisional and state level. “We must give chance to the target group to develop their skills in the sport, so that our nation will not be short of talented ping pong players,” he said.
Harden, who is also Simanggang Assemblyman, also announced a grant of RM10,000 for the Sri Aman Division Ping Pong Association to carry out their activities for next year.
Meanwhile, the organising chairman for the event, Helmy Hamzah remarked that the open competition had given the chance for ping pong players throughout the state to demonstrate their potential skills as well as to interact with one another.
“It has also given the organisers the chance to scout for potential players at divisional level,” said Helmy. Among those present were the Chairman of Sri Benak Ping Pong Club, Dr Muhammad Ghazali Bin Ahmad Narihan and Temenggung Kueh Aik Seng.
