RANAU: July 19, 2026 – A total of 1,099 athletes from 24 District Education Offices (PPDs) across Sabah began competing in the 58th Sabah Schools Sports Council (MSSS) Athletics Championship, which got under way at the Ranau Sports Complex today.
The six-day championship, running until 24 July, features more than 20 track and field events across various categories, serving as a key platform for unearthing new school-level athletics talent and strengthening the state’s sports development ecosystem.
The official opening ceremony was officiated by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister I, who is also the state Minister of Works and Utilities, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Joachim Gunsalam, represented by his Political Secretary Datuk Arthur Sen Choo Siong.
All 24 PPDs fielded their own contingents, namely Sipitang, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Papar, Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Tuaran, Lahad Datu, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Kudat, Kinabatangan, Beluran, Ranau, Telupid, Semporna, Kunak, Tawau, Sandakan, Keningau, Tenom, Nabawan and Tambunan.
As the host district, Ranau fielded the largest contingent with 80 athletes, while Nabawan recorded the smallest turnout with just 13 athletes.
Competition is expected to be particularly fierce as defending champions, Tawau District (MSSD Tawau), seek to retain the overall title they won at the 57th MSSS Athletics Championship in Tambunan last year. In the previous edition, Tawau clinched the overall championship with 15 gold medals, finishing ahead of runners-up Keningau, with Kota Kinabalu in third place.
The championship is not merely about chasing the overall title, but also serves as an important channel for identifying talented athletes who have the potential to represent Sabah at the national level, thereby further strengthening school sports development in Sabah.
