The Youth and Sports Minister with the Malaysian Olympic Council Vice President posing for a photo with the Queen’s Baton Relay.

IPOH, 22 January 2022 - A total of 1,000 people participated in the Commonwealth Baton Run in conjunction with the Queen’s Baton Relay Commonwealth Games 2022 at Padang Lintau Kampung Tengku Hussein in Gugusan Manjoi.

According to Youth and Sports Minister Dato' Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu, the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England 2022 is scheduled to take place from 28 July to 8 August 2022 with the participation of 72 countries, and Malaysia is the 29th country to be the Queen's Baton Relay stopover.

The 5km run was also joined by British High Commissioner Representative, Political Counselor (Internal) in Malaysia Tom Shepherd as the first baton holder.

Also present were Youth and Sports Ministry Secretary-General Dato' Jana Santhiran Muniayan and Malaysian Olympic Council Vice President cum Malaysian Contingent Head to the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 Dato' Shahrul Zaman Yahya.

A total of 9 athletes were selected as baton holders.

Among them were Loo Kum Zee (Former National Athletics Athlete), Siti Zalina Ahmad (National Field Bowling Athlete), Karen Lyne (National Table Tennis Athlete), Izzat Shameer Dzulkeple (National Field Bowling Athlete), Auni Fathiah Kamis (National Field Bowling Athlete), Muhammad Afiq Mohamad Ali Hanafiah (National Athletics Athlete), Nur Amisha Azrilrizal (Perak Muay Thai Athlete), Mohammad Rifdean Masdor (Perak Muay Thai Athlete) and Nur Fidrah Noh (National Field Bowling Athlete).

Besides the running event, the programme was enlivened with aerobics activities, lucky draws and exhibitions from agencies under the Youth and Sports Ministry, such as the National Sports Council, National Sports Institute and National Youth and Sports Department.

The Youth and Sports Minister hoped that all Malaysians pray for the success of the athletes who would compete later.

“Of course, we want to do better than the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia. Previously, we were placed 12th with 24 medals comprising 7 Golds, 5 Silver and 12 Bronze,” he said.

Source : Corporate, SUK Perak.