144 Participants Compete in Sabah Open Slingshot tourney

8 June 2025

KENINGAU : Traditional sports are gaining renewed popularity among the public, as evidenced by the Sabah Open Slingshot Tournament held at the Toboh Laut Village Open Hall, which drew 144 participants from various districts.

The spirited event was officiated by Junior Fred Vincent Marukau, Community Development Leader for N.40 Bingkor, who represented Datuk Robert Tawik @ Nordin, Assistant Minister of Public Works and Bingkor State Assemblyman.

In his opening speech, Junior Fred reiterated Datuk Robert’s continued commitment to supporting community programmes, traditional sports, and efforts to foster unity through cultural heritage.

“Datuk Robert places strong emphasis on elevating traditional games like this, not just as a form of entertainment, but as a platform to unite communities,” he said.

The organiser, Toboh Laut Slingshot, extended their heartfelt thanks to Datuk Robert for his generous contributions and prize sponsorships, which added excitement and meaning to the tournament for both participants and spectators.

The tournament attracted slingshot enthusiasts from across Sabah and also revived a sense of rural spirit and nostalgia for traditional games in a warm and harmonious setting.

While generous prizes awaited the winners, the true value of the event lay in its ability to bridge generations, young and old, through a shared love for cultural roots and local identity.

With support by grassroots leaders such as Robert, traditional sports will live on.