Sukma: Let the Games begin

Shot of the opening ceremony of the Sukma Games in Perlis on Monday

KANGAR: The eagerly-anticipated 17th Sukma (Malaysia Games) got off to a glittering start at the Stadium Tuanku Syed Putra here.

The opening ceremony, which was officiated by the Raja Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail on Monday night, featured a four-themed celebration of history, evolution, art and colours.

Five former and current Perlis athletes, led by Afizal Abu Othman (tennis), Badrul Hisham Basri (rugby), Nusairi Musa (cycling), Azhar Ismail (softball), Ibrahim Saad (football), Mustaf Ibrahim (athletics), Mohd Faiz Musa (weightlifting) and Sukma secretariat sub-commitee chairman Jamil Saad took turns to carry the torch.

The Raja Perlis was then given the honour of placing the torch into a transparent box on a pedestal. Immediately there was a beam of light flashing across the pitch towards the Games’ cauldron, setting it alight to signify the opening of the Games.

The ceremony was a creative blend of reality and fantasy that was a feast for the eyes and the mind as the incorporation of the elements of light and sound, art and colour gave the Games the much sought-after wow factor.

This year’s edition, from May 24 to June 4, will feature more than 5,000 athletes from all 13 Malaysian states as well as the Federal Territories and Brunei Darussalam.

They will be competing in a total of 396 events offering 1,265 medals.

Terengganu, the overall champions in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012, are now leading the medal tally.
The East Coast state has amassed 17 medals – 10 golds, four silvers and three bronzes – from canoeing, cycling and karate.

The Star

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