Huge turnout for National Sports Day

KUALA LUMPUR: The third edition of the National Sports Day kicked off to much fanfare.

At least 15,000 people from all walks of life showed up at the Kuala Lumpur Sports City (KLSC), Bukit Jalil for the national event that was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

There were 8,000 who participated in the Fun Run (5km and 10km) while another 3,000 took part in the Fun Ride (5km and 10km) on Saturday.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who initiated the National Sports Day in 2015, also participated in the cycling event.

There were also other events such as 3x3 basketball, a Junior Cycling Malaysia race, paintball, tug-of-war and a football carnival around the KLSC complex.

Several national athletes such as Cheong Jun Hoong, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Leong Mun Yee (diving), Wong Weng Son (wushu), Farah Ann Abdul Hadi, Koi Sie Yan (gymnastics), Muhd Irfan Shamsuddin, Mohd Ziyad Zolkefli and Mohd Ridzuan Puzi (athletics) were also present to show their support.

“This is the third edition of the National Sports Day and we had quite a few events and informative booths lined up at the KLSC,” said Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali.

“We are pleased that the prime minister was present to officiate the event and we had a large turnout for the Fun Run and Ride event. In order to encourage more Malaysians to participate in sports, we also opened all our sports facilities to the public for free today.

“We are also happy that our sporting icons and athletes who competed at the KL SEA Games were also present in their respective states to lend their support,” added Lokman.