Borneo Games wrap up in Kuching, moving to East Kalimantan next

KUCHING, 26 Sept -- Atlet tiup sumpit Sarawak, Imbau Leyo memeriksa damak sewaktu sesi latihan acara tiup sumpit pada temasya Sukan Borneo Kuching 2025 di Petra Jaya hari ini. Sukan Borneo Kuching 2025 berlangsung dari 24 hingga 28 Sept ini dengan penyertaan kontinjen dari Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan, Brunei serta Provinsi Kalimantan Timur, menampilkan lima acara sukan teras iaitu olahraga, akuatik renang, badminton, boling padang dan memanah serta dua acara sukan tradisional iaitu tarik tali dan tiup sumpit. Sukan Borneo merupakan platform penting untuk menyatukan rakyat serta memupuk perpaduan antara wilayah, negara serta provinsi yang berada di pulau Borneo yang pertama kali diadakan pada 1995 dan kali terakhir 2013 di Labuan. -- fotoBERNAMA (2025) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

It WAS an event full of colour, culture and tradition as Borneo Games 2025 returned following a hiatus of more than a decade.

The five-day event saw athletes from Sarawak, Sabah, Labuan, Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia’s East Kalimantan taking part in the latest iteration of the games which started in 1954.

This year, the Kuching games saw teams compete in five main sports – athletics (track and field), swimming, badminton, lawn bowls and archery – alongside the more traditional tug-of-war and blowpipe contest.

Traditional performances making up part of the cultural and athletics showcase at Borneo Games 2025 in Kuching. — Photos: Bernama

There were also dance and musical performances at the opening and closing ceremonies, showcasing cultural highlights of the participating regions.

The overall winner of Borneo Games 2025 was Sarawak which collected 62 gold, 51 silver and 45 bronze medals.

The origins of the Borneo Games started with teams from Sarawak, North Borneo (Sabah) and Brunei, according to information released by Sarawak public communications unit.

Participants keeping up traditions at the blowpipe competition as part of Borneo Games 2025 in Kuching.

It was held yearly from 1954 to 1960, then turned into a biennial event starting in 1962.

The games lost momentum in the 1970s due to lack of participation, but returned in 2005 and the last one was held in 2013.

Additional teams over the years have included Labuan, East, West, North and South Kalimantan, as well as Terengganu, Kedah and Melaka.

Meanwhile at the closing ceremony of the latest event, Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg announced that Borneo Games 2027 would be held in East Kalimantan.