Kota Kinabalu: Minister of Youth Development, Sports Development and Creative Economy Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan expressed high hope that muaythai will once again be a key contributor to Sabah’s gold medal tally at this year’s Malaysian Games (Sukma).
He believed the sport’s growing popularity and the dedication of the athletes as pivotal factors in achieving similar success they did at the last Sukma where muaythai delivered five golds, three silvers and two bronzes.
He said this in his speech at the closing ceremony of the Sabah Muaythai Expo: The Young Guns U17 in 1Borneo Hypermall on Sunday.
He praised the organising committee led by State coach Cyrille Dhillon Tahing for the success of the event.
He also said the State Government through his ministry is wholeheartedly committed to strengthening a holistic sports development ecosystem starting from grassroots levels to elite performances
“Programmes like this are the best example of the ‘grassroots development’ approach which provides early exposure, forms discipline and provides a clear path for young athletes to develop to a higher level.
“More importantly, this platform serves as a strategic foundation for preparations towards the Sabah Games (Saga) 2027 and Sukma.
“We cannot just rely on talent alone, but need to build a development system that is consistent, structured and high-impact,” he said.
He added that the success of muaythai at the last Sukma proved that the development approach implemented is on the right track and must build on the success to go further.
“This success is not the end point — rather a benchmark for us to go further. We want to see more champions born, more Sabah athletes standing proudly on the international stage.
“In fact, Sabah has already proven its ability with athletes like Yan Jia Chi, a five-time world champion and SEA Games champion, Asyraf Danial, a 2025 SEA Games bronze medallist and Eva Anastasia, a 2025 SEA Games silver medallist.
“They are symbols that Sabah is capable of producing world-class athletes and this is the legacy we need to continue.”
Meanwhile, a total of 126 females and 179 males from 37 contingents throughout Sabah took part in the four-day event.
Also present at the closing ceremony were Ministry’s permanent secretary Datuk Mansur Asun, Sabah Sports Council director Asneh Mohd Noor, deputy director Valarie Wong and Sabah Muaythai Association president Nazri Ab Razak.
