AKM Tour brings traditional sports to younger generation

Let the good times bloom: Nurul Hidayah Ahmad Radhi (right) at her stall during the second day of the AKM Tour at the Dato’ Sagor Circuit in Pasir Salak, Perak. — Bernama

PASIR SALAK: Tarik upih (palm frond sledding) and boling nyior (coconut bowling) are among the traditional games featured at the three-day Jelajah Aspirasi Keluarga Malaysia or Malaysian Family Aspiration (AKM) Tour in Perak.

Perak Tengah assistant district officer Khairul Amiran Md Nazri, who is also the head of Sukan Rakyat programme, said the idea to promote the activities was aimed at bringing the younger generation closer to people’s sports or local traditional games.

“Sports such as futsal and netball are more common among them and are also played at schools but traditional games like these are rarely exposed to them.

“The younger generation prefers indoor sports such as esports or online games because they can be accessed online using gadgets without having to leave their home,” he told Bernama when met at the Dato’ Sagor Circuit here yesterday.

Khairul Amiran said they were targeting about 500 visitors to participate in people’s sports activities such as sack race, batu seremban and dam aji, apart from netball, futsal, esports and others.

A visitor from Seri Iskandar, Mashasyima Mahmud, 33, said she was really excited to see traditional games being featured at the AKM Tour programme.

“I had the opportunity to participate in tarik upih, boling nyior and sack race. I have never done it before and it is truly a wonderful experience,” she said.

Meanwhile, esports organiser Amirul Afandi, 28, said he was surprised to see esports enthusiasts from all over the country before the start of the competition.

“There were players from Negri Sembilan and Penang. The online registration was closed last week due to overwhelming response,” he said.

Ahmad Syakir, 27, from Kedah said he registered a week before the AKM Tour started.

“When I saw the advertisement on social media, I was very excited and invited my friends to join me here,” he said.

The three-day carnival that began on Friday will be closed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today, where he is expected to host a feast for the people this afternoon.