KUCHING: The private sector is encouraged to organise more sporting tournaments as part of efforts to uncover new talent, develop sports and strengthen unity among communities in Sarawak.

Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki said the involvement of private companies in organising sporting events also forms part of their social responsibility in bringing communities together.

According to him, the Pekat Pickleball Tournament 2026 organised by Pekat Energy Sarawak demonstrates the sport’s potential as a platform for interaction, bringing together participants of various ethnicities and age groups.

“Besides doing business, they are also organising this tournament as part of their social contribution. It is part of our efforts to develop and uncover talent in pickleball,” he said.

He said this when met by reporters after the closing ceremony of the Pekat Pickleball Tournament 2026 at Pikabol Malaysia, here on Sunday.

Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar added that the participation of youths, older people and leaders from various ethnic groups in the tournament reflects the role of sports in strengthening community ties and fostering unity.

“This is one way for us to unite the people, and I believe that with tournaments like this and the involvement of the private sector, as demonstrated by PEKAT, we will be able to further develop the sport of pickleball,” he said.

In this regard, he congratulated Pekat Energy Sarawak on successfully organising the tournament and expressed hope that more private companies would come forward to organise similar sporting events in the future.

The Pekat Pickleball Tournament 2026 brought together 28 teams competing in the Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles categories, as well as VIP events.

The Sarawak Secretary’s team emerged champion in the team event, followed by Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad SDEC (SKJV) in second place and Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) HQ in third.

In the VIP Men’s Doubles category, SEB’s Ir Ts Muhammad Randie Abdullah and Rizal Ahmad emerged champions, while Dato Abang Arabi Abang Narudin and Muammar Quaddafi of Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) finished second.

Azmi Yusuf and Nazarie Kushairy of the Sarawak Secretary’s team took third place.

Meanwhile, in the VIP Women’s Doubles category, Dato Enn Ong Siok Ean and Datin Lily Wong of SABATI claimed the title, followed by Afifah Fatin Abu Bakar and Dayang Zuriati Izzrinda Abg Julaihi of MAKSAK in second place, while Dato Baduyah Bujang and Zetty Farazieta Zakaria of SABATI finished third. -UKASnews