RANAU: July 24, 2026 – The 58th Sabah Schools Sports Council (MSS) Athletics Championship drew to a close after six days of intense competition at the Ranau District Sports Complex.
Amid the cheers of supporters and the sweat of competitors, Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Masidi Manjun called on participants to cultivate a champion mentality from the state level upwards.
His call was delivered by his political secretary, Johari Suhaimin, at the closing ceremony on Friday.
Masidi stressed that success at the state level was not the end of the road, but rather a springboard to the national stage.
“Do not be complacent. True success still awaits you at higher levels,” he said in a speech read out by Johari.
Throughout the championship, which ran from 19 to 24 July, more than 1,000 athletes from 24 district contingents competed on the track and in the field.
The contest was not merely a showcase of speed and physical strength, it also tested mental resilience under pressure.
Masidi reminded Sabah’s representatives for the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) championships to aim beyond just winning gold medals.
“Setting new records must become a key objective, one that will raise the profile of the state’s sport on the national stage,” he said.
For those who failed to qualify for MSSM, he urged them not to view defeat as the end.
“Do not let loss be a full stop. Rise stronger in the future,” he added.
This year’s championship saw several records broken, a clear sign that Sabah’s young talent continues to develop.
With consistent training and high discipline, Masidi expressed confidence that local athletes could go beyond state borders.
He also congratulated the record-breakers and expressed hope that their achievements would spur them on to even greater success at the national level.
Throughout the past week, sports fans filled the Ranau complex to witness the emergence of new hopes for Sabah’s athletics scene.
