NEGRI SEMBILAN: Kids had a ball of a time - running, hurdling, throwing and jumping - at the World Athletics (WA) Kids’ Athletics Programme held at Arena IRC in Bandar Seri Sendayan on July 2.
A total of 250 kids and their teachers from Negri Sembilan, Selangor, and Kuala Lumpur gained valuable experiences from the exposure programme on athletics conducted by Kids Athletics coaches led by Madam PL Slve.
The children were divided into two groups - seven to nine years old and 10-12 years old, and they underwent different activities at different stations.
The event was organised by Nestle Malaysia in partnership with the Malaysia Athletics Federation (MAF). The aim was to improve nutrition knowledge and promote active lifestyle among school children through this programme.
One of the attractive points of the WA Kids Athletics was it's scoring system. It was so easy that results can be posted almost instantaneously upon completion of a particular activity.
Another positive feature of the scoring system was that the final results of the team were independent from the absolute performance of individual participants.
Samson Samuel who came to watch the event and took part as a substitute said, "Through the many activities I underwent, I believe athletics is the best form of physical exercise for me."
"Athletics is a fun sport for me since I have many friends in my Anglo Chinese Primary School in Seremban, who love to compete," said the nine-year old Samson.
"I would like to follow in the footsteps of my late grandfather S Rajasingam who was a 440 yards and 880 yards runner in Methodist Boys School in Kuala Lumpur in the 1940s."
His teammate Nur Amni Maisarah Anuar from SK Danau Kota 2 in Setapak said, "I've been involved in athletics for the past six years and it keeps me active, fit and healthy away from a sedentary lifestyle."
"My favourite events in school are 100m, 200m and high jump and my coach is Abas Kasim," she said.
Maisarah shared one of her takeaways from the programme, "Through the many stations I took part in, I learned that having strength in hands and legs, speed and teamwork are important.”
