Penang’s Dragon Ark left Kuching with both the DB20 and DB12 Premier Open titles as the International Dragon Boat Regatta 2026 ended on Sunday, Oct 25. The two wins came on the final day of the three-day competition on the Sarawak River. In the DB20 Premier Open final, Dragon Ark finished ahead of Sabah’s PPNS Entulon. The club also took second place in DB12 Senior B. Those results describe three separate categories, rather than a single overall championship. The double Premier Open success was the main result from Dragon Ark’s final-day campaign at the Kuching regatta, according to The Borneo Post’s report from the races. The club’s chairman and coach said members had fitted training around their jobs, often practising in the evenings. Preparation included sessions at sea to adapt to different water and weather conditions. Two members were competing for the first time. For spectators who followed the races along the Kuching waterfront, Sunday’s finals brought the international dragon boat competition to a close. Dragon Ark’s next task, its coach said, was to strengthen training and develop further programmes as rival teams improved.

Only three of Sarawak’s 40 sports and community facility projects under the 13th Malaysia Plan had been completed as of September, according to a ministerial update to the State Legislative Assembly on Oct 20. Another 18 were under construction and 19 remained at various planning stages. The portfolio is broader than 40 new sports venues: it comprises 16 new facilities, 19 upgrades to sports and social facilities, and five non-physical projects. Those categories matter when judging how much new space is actually becoming available to communities. The youth and sports ministry said its “One District, One Sports Complex” initiative is expected to bring sports-complex coverage to about 89 per cent of districts once the facilities are completed. That is a completion target, not the proportion of districts already served. Regional development agencies, including the Greater Kuching Coordinated Development Agency, are involved in the effort. Preparations for the 2027 SEA Games involve 11 facility upgrades. The ministry reported that eight were ahead of schedule, with completion work expected in the first two quarters of 2027. Sarawak Stadium, the planned opening-ceremony venue, is expected to be completed by January 2027. For Kuching spectators and regular facility users, these are work-completion targets rather than announcements that the upgraded venues are already open.

Sarawak will host the 2029 Islamic Solidarity Games, bringing a 57-country competition to a state still preparing for next year's SEA Games. The event is expected to be centred in Kuching, with Serian being considered for some competitions. Sarawak has received the hosting rights and an agreement has been signed, according to reports from DayakDaily and The Borneo Post. The final sports programme and detailed budget are not yet fixed. The early estimate reported by The Borneo Post puts the cost at about RM400 million to RM450 million, above the RM350 million allocation cited for the SEA Games. For Kuching, the practical test will be whether venue upgrades, transport and accommodation plans can handle athletes, officials, crews and supporters from across the OIC membership.

Sarawak Stadium upgrade hits 22.55% — all SEA Games venues on track for Q1 2027 completion {img0} Sarawak's preparations for the 2027 SEA Games are picking up pace. JKR Sarawak director Datu Ir Cassidy Morris inspected several sports venues on Aug 11, and the numbers look solid. Sarawak Stadium's upgrading and refurbishment has reached 22.55% progress, targeted for completion in January 2027 — well ahead of the SEA Games in September. Other venues also progressing: Stadium Perpaduan: 13.31%, completion Feb 2027 Lawn Bowl Arena: completion Jan 2027 Wushu Training Centre: completion Feb 2027 SLTA complex: completion March 2027 Cassidy stressed that all projects must be completed on time without compromising quality and safety. The Q1 2027 timeline leaves enough room for testing and final inspections before the Games. Location: Kuching, Sarawak Details: Sarawak Stadium 22.55% done; 5 venues being upgraded; all targeted for Q1 2027 Source: DayakDaily Getting ready for SEA Games 2027 — are you excited?

A 14-year-old Sarawak deaf table tennis gold medallist may miss her next step because her cochlear implant processor keeps failing. [image: 1785729955161-celynn_20260803.jpg] Source: The Borneo Post Celynn Ho won the women's singles gold medal at the first Malaysian Deaf Table Tennis Championship in Ipoh last month. She is now due to represent Malaysia at the Asia Pacific Deaf Multi-Sport Championships 2026 in Penang from Oct 3 to 10. Her mother Rita Bong said the biggest problem now is the cost of replacing Celynn's faulty cochlear implant processor. A new one could cost around RM90,000. Bong said the device matters not only for school, but also for training, because Celynn relies on it to communicate with coaches and teammates. Key Details Location: Kuching / Padawan Details: Celynn is a Form 2 student at Chung Hua Middle School No. 1. Those who want to know more can contact Bong at 012-8886366, as listed by The Borneo Post. Source: The Borneo Post What do you think?