Daiichi Sarawak Motor Racing Championship 2012 @ Sibu

This post is mainly to share some of the photos I took during Daiichi Sarawak Motor Racing Championship 2012, Sibu series. So, don't expect much elaboration here! ;)

The photos I guess are self-explanatory. However, little info about this event is that it had been held from 19th - 20th May 2012 at Sibu Town Square area.

Not many good photos had been taken as normal spectators like me (well... who care if you are a blogger or wtf ) were disallowed to stand too close to the race track and most of the area were blocked to be accessed.

However, after some efforts, I managed to shoot some sexy race girls despite the quality may not be as satisfactory. Had tried my best thought!

 
Here is a short video clip to give you some tips about the race. Hope you like it.

Sibu Open Badminton Championship 2011 @ Thumb's Up Badminton Academy

Roundtree-Reliance Transport Sibu Open Badminton Championship 2011 is currently held at Thumb's Up Badminton Academy badminton courts located at Level 12 of Multistorey Carpark, Central Market Sibu. For local badminton enthusiasts, this is one of the highest prestige badminton tournament in Sibu annually held by Sibu Badminton Association.

Differ from previous years, this year's tournament had been shifted to Thumb's Up Badminton Academy's hall which provides international standard of Taraflex flooring technology and more complete facilities like proper shower rooms and changing rooms. If you wish to know more about the facility, read my previous entry "Now Everyone Can Play!".

As the facility is up to international standard, thus this year's tournament is more special with the presence and participation of some well-known west Malaysia's badminton players. These players include former national team men's double cum former national badminton coach Yap Kim Hock, former national team single player Kuan Beng Hong, once Malaysia's number 2 doubles Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari and Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif.

[Former national player Kuan Beng Hong waiting for service]

There are more peninsular men's and women's players who took part in this year's event with some of them might be in national team but I personally not recognize them including the Latif brothers Mohd Razif and Mohd Najib in men's double.

[Former national coach Yap Kim Hock kind enough to pose in front of my cam! Thanks coach Yap!]

This afternoon I was lucky enough to be able to witness Yap Kim Hock playing in mixed double where he teamed up with a local player, but too bad his team lost in the match and fail to advance to the next round. I was late for Fairuzizuan and Mohd Zakry's match which was scheduled at 8pm tonight. They should be able to advance to final I believe.

 [Mohd Zakry (left) and Fairuzizuan Tazari (right) kind enough to pose in front of my cam! Thanks both!]

[Yap in mixed double]

One thing to emphasize - Thumb's Up Badminton Academy Sdn Bhd had been using "Now Everyone Can Play" as their company's slogan which was initiated by me in my write-up introducing their facilities about 8 months ago!! Honestly, I didn't get a penny from this, they don't even know who the hell I am... but I think I am quite proud with it though!! ;)

Sibu Badminton Open 2011 will be held from 18th-21st August. The more important thing is - the admission is free!!! So, if you wish to see national players in action, it is still not too late for that. Just visit to Thumb's Up Badminton Academy at Level 12 Central Market Sibu tomorrow! Sorry, I don't have the schedule about the event, just read tomorrow's newspaper and you may get some tips from there!

[Latif brothers in action (correct me if I am wrong)]

[Yap Kim Hock in action]

[Kuan Beng Hong in action]

[Latif brother in action]

Now Everyone Can Play!

Playing badminton on an international standard's court is no longer a dream for badminton enthusiasts of Sibu. Yes! "Now everyone can play" as long as you willing to pay!

Located at the top spot (Level 6) of Sibu 2nd multi storey carpark just beside/behind Sibu Central Market, there are 13 international standard courts to be rented. Many people even the local still not aware of it including me until I had been told of its existence recently.

This facilities is run by a company called "Thumb's Up Badminton Academy Sdn. Bhd." which I think is a local owned company (enlighten me if I am wrong on this). From the company's name itself, I believe that this is not just simply a company aiming in doing badminton courts renting business, but they will also focus on badminton sports and players development in the region. It is predicted that there will be more badminton clinics as well as major badminton tournaments been held in Sibu in the near future!

These courts are "international standard" because the floor is neither wood nor cement. They are using a technology called TARAFLEX flooring! TARAFLEX is the premier brand for indoor sports flooring solution which is widely recognized by most of the major sports federations in the world.

To explain the TARAFLEX in a less technical way, it is "rubber" kind of flooring. Thus it inherit the characteristic of rubber, which is elastic. Its elasticity is not spread around the entire area but only around the point of impact. Hence, besides giving the optimum performance to the athletes, it can also reduce the possibilities of getting injured, either by knocking, falling or diving or all kind of impact as it has the ability to adsorb energy from these impacts. So for those who love to "throw body", this is the most ideal flooring to do so without getting hurt!

Players also need not worry about slippery problem as faced when playing on conventional wood/cement flooring. TARAFLEX flooring gives tremendous grip to the shoes in dry condition until certain extend that I personally felt not quite used to it probably because all these while I was playing on a slippery wood flooring courts.

Apart from the flooring, the company also provided other necessary facilities for customers/players such as proper changing rooms, shower rooms with heater and wash rooms. Customers can also use the towel provided if want to take a bath after the game and according to a staff, this is free of charge!

 

 

Lockers are also available for those who wish to put their belongings at a safe place so that they feel secure thus can avoid any distraction while enjoying their games! These lockers are free to use!

Besides that, there is also an area selling all kind of badminton equipment such as rackets, shuttlecocks, stockings, shoes and so on. So, don't worry if you out of shuttlecocks or your shoes break apart while playing the games. You can always buy another one on the spot! See how convenient it is?

 

There is also an area reserved for gym! For the time being, this area is still pretty empty but I expect to see more equipment coming in to fill the area in the near future!

The rental price is not cheap, but reasonable and affordable. For weekend walk-in rental, it is RM15 per hour with time range from 9am to 7pm. On peak hours (7pm - 11pm), it is RM20/hour. Monthly rental fee is cheaper, range from RM330 - RM360 per month depends on selected time range. You will get even more discount if you go for yearly rental.

The courts are still pretty new and I believe they just started for business around November this year. So for those who want to try out the courts and facilities available, here are some of the information:

Thumb's Up Badminton Academy Sdn. Bhd.

Level 12, Top Floor,

Multistorey Carpark, Sibu Central Market,

96000 Sibu, Sarawak.

Tel:  019-828 2345 / 016-522 2345

Sibu X-Ball Challenge 2010 @ Sibu Town Square

Xball Challenge is an annual event organized by a group of local youngsters who called themselves X4 Generation. They were also the organizer for Sarawak Cub Prix Sibu series which had been held at the same venue about a month ago.

This year the X-Ball Challenge event was held on 5th and 6th of June at car park of Sibu Town Square. There were 4 categories for this competition: Male 16 and below, Male 22 and below, Male 30 and below and also Female Open with no age limit.

The event had attracted a lot of basketball lovers to participate as well as witness the competition, but most of them were from the youth group. It is an healthy program for the youth and should be encouraged.

Besides the street ball challenge, other events such as slam dunk competition and shooting at the spinning basketball hoop competition also being held to make the event more attracting and interesting.