The ‘Road to NCT’ Junior Badminton Championship Sabah leg was a resounding success that attracted over 500 youth participants and a crowd of 1,500 attendees at Olympia Badminton Arena, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
Launched by NCT Alliance Berhad in partnership with Petaling Badminton Club, the championship reflects the company’s commitment to nurturing young talent in badminton, advocating healthy competition and cultivating essential values such as perseverance, teamwork and sportsmanship, while championing the company’s Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) principles through contributions to social development.
The tournament kicked off in Melaka on Jan 19 this year and has traversed through Melaka, Pahang, Selangor, and just wrapped up in Sabah. The next qualifying round will be in Penang with the grand finale to be held in Kuala Lumpur on May 30 until June 2.
NCT Alliance Berhad executive chairman and group managing director Dato Sri Yap Ngan Choy said, “We are pleased to witness the ‘Road to NCT’ championship’s impact extending beyond the courts and nurturing potential badminton stars by embedding essential values that will help shape our youth. This allows us to do our part to shine the spotlight on badminton and simultaneously, inspire the development of Malaysia’s youth through inclusive ways.
“Supporting youth and communities across the country remains vital to how we fulfill our ESG responsibilities and grow as a company.”
On the final day of the Sabah qualifier, NCT Alliance hosted a group of children aged 7 to 18 from Rumah Amal Kasih to watch the junior players in action.
The event was graced by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II of Sabah Datuk Seri Panglima Dr. Joachim Gunsalam.
Added to the excitement were NCT Alliance brand ambassadors and rising badminton stars Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun, who made a special appearance.
The badminton virtuosos joined the children from Rumah Amal Kasih for a friendly round of badminton. In addition to sharing tips on the sport and words of encouragement, the children were presented with gifts by NCT Alliance Berhad chief operating officer Chau Chun Hoo.
“Our goal is to ignite the passion for badminton among the children of Rumah Amal Kasih by offering them a unique opportunity to interact and train with Man Wei Chong and Tee Kai Wun.
“Through this experience, we aim to inspire them to strive for excellence in the sport, while instilling in them the belief that with dedication and determination, they can achieve anything they set their minds to,” Yap added.
The tournament culminated in a display of extraordinary skill and sportsmanship across 14 categories. Winners from each state will stand a chance to advance and compete in the finale ‘Road to NCT’ Grand Prix in Kuala Lumpur, and win an all-inclusive trip to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris later this year.
For more details about the ‘Road to NCT’ Junior Badminton Championship, visit https://petalingbc.com/nct–junior/.
