Serving lessons, games to avoid financial pickle

(standing fourth and fifth from left) Tan and Mohd Sofian with some of the winners of the inaugural Burmon Trader x Pickleball Competition by Bursa Malaysia. — Courtesy photos

COMBINING financial literacy lessons with pickleball has proven to be a good strategy by Bursa Malaysia to teach money management.

The inaugural programme attracted over 400 secondary school students (aged 13 to 17) from 12 schools in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya.

At the workshop, they were introduced to Burmon Trader, an interactive online game that teaches trading, strategic thinking and decision making.

Speaking at Burmon Trader x Pickleball Competition in Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, Bursa Malaysia investment development and strategy chief Stephanie Tan said skills gleaned from the workshop and competition complemented each other.

“Via Burmon Trader, students learn to balance risk with opportunity, while the tournament encourages them to strategise.

“Both activities allow participants to improve their mental faculties and physical endurance,” she said.

Bursa Malaysia, Tan said, was committed to improving financial literacy among Malaysians, particularly the youth.

Students playing Burmon Trader which teaches strategic thinking and decision-making.

National Sports Council deputy director-general Mohd Sofian Hamzah, who was guest of honour, lauded the innovative use of sports to pique interest in financial matters.

“This is a good example of how knowledge can go hand in hand with discipline, competitiveness and teamwork,” he said.

The programme saw over two months of preparation, comprising Burmon Trader workshops and pickleball clinics.

The finals consisted of individual competitions in Burmon Trader and pickleball, and a joint Burmon and pickleball team contest.

In the Burmon Trader competition, Blaiss Yong Pooi Sze of SMK Bandar Utama Damansara 3 won first place, while two SMK USJ 13 students, Lee Yong Xuen and Dharmeshwaran Sivabalan won second and third respectively.

In the pickleball tournament, Matthias Evan Lee Mun Hon and Shraavan Mitraan Sri Rajni Kanth from SMK USJ 12 won first place.

Second place went to Syed Zahir Wafa Syed Shadzly Wafa and Muhamad Oezil Ajib Muhamad Ajib of Victoria Institution, and third to Erico Jonason and Ishaawant Singh from SMK (L) Methodist.

The overall Burmon x Pickleball Champion was SMK USJ 13, followed by Victoria Institution and SMK (L) Methodist.