By: Nurul Ezzaty Mohd Azhari
SERDANG, July 9 - Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) hosted the National Baseball League 2023 for the first time. This is also the first championship organised by the Malaysian Baseball Federation (MBF) since its establishment in 1998.
In his speech, The Regent of Perlis, DYMM Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail expressed hope for the National Baseball League programme to be continued.
“I hope that the collaborative effort by all parties in planning programmes like these will continue in the future to produce and elevate high-quality baseball products in both the local and international sports scene.
“I highly appreciate the involvement of all state sports associations in ensuring that baseball continues to be well received by Malaysians from all walks of life,” he said at the launching ceremony of the Aeon Big BubblesO2 National Baseball League 2023 at the UPM Baseball Field here today.
Commenced on June 10, the National Baseball League 2023, which will run for six weekends, sees the participation of 184 baseball players aged from 20 to 30 from eight states, namely Perlis, Perak, Selangor, Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Johor.
Meanwhile, the Youth and Sports Minister, Hannah Yeoh, said the collaboration between sports associations and UPM is crucial to enable the interchange of technical expertise that is relevant to baseball.
“The baseball sport can be developed in a more structured and effective manner with the expertise of the academics at the University.
“I was also informed that a series of discussions have been conducted between BMF and UPM on the construction of the first baseball field in Malaysia,” she said.
The Director of the UPM Sports Academy, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tajularipin Sulaiman stated that UPM is ready to collaborate with BMF, namely, on the infrastructural development of a baseball field that will be beneficial for the players and the country alike.
The involvement of UPM as the host of this championship has indirectly enabled the University to achieve Goal 3 outlined in the UPM Strategic Plan 2021-2025, which is sustaining the industrial and community network and ecosystems, as well as helping the country to promote the baseball sport at domestic and international levels.
Also gracing the ceremony were DYTM Raja Puan Muda Perlis Tuanku Dr. Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil and the Director of Co-Curriculum and Student Development Centre (PKPP), Assoc. Prof. Dr Omrah Hassan @ Hussin. - UPM
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