First-time Sabah International Fishing Tournament (SIFT) participant, Saiful Sharil bin Kifli emerged as the champion of the competition with his catch, an escolar weighing a whopping 40 kilogrammes (kg).

The 38-year-old retired army personnel from Brunei walked away with RM25,000 cash prize, a trophy and fishing tackles.

Meanwhile, Sabahan Fung Vui Jack won the second prize with a 38.5 kg escolar while Sarawakian Steven Phua Chin Yang came in third with his 37.71 kg escolar. Fung and Phua received cash prizes of RM10,000 and RM5,000 respectively, as well as a trophy and fishing tackles each.

All the top three winners came from the same team, Alpha Reeler.

When met after the prize presentation ceremony yesterday, Saiful said the 40 kg escolar was his biggest catch to date.

“My largest catch before this (SIFT) was 30 kg.”

Saiful said he often went fishing in Brunei but it was his first time taking part in SIFT with his friends in search of new experience.

He successfully landed the escolar after a 20-minute fight with the fish on the last night of the tournament, April 29.

“It was a fun experience. And I was lucky,” Saiful said, adding that he had caught a total 80 kilogrammes of fish during the tournament.

Saiful said he would probably return to join the tournament next year.

A total of 98 participants took part in SIFT 2017 organized by the Sabah Anglers Association (SAA) from April 25 to 30. The participants were from Brunei Darussalam, Macau, Hong Kong and China, Singapore and Malaysia.

Meanwhile, SAA president Datuk Wilfred Lingham said the association raised RM1,000 in the fish auction yesterday.

“We have auctioned off dogtooth tuna and ruby snapper for RM1,000 in total.”

He said some fish were also donated away, including the escolars which many perceived to be not appealing to the palate.

Lingham said the money raised from the auction would be donated to a charitable organization to be decided later. SAA has been donating to the single mothers’ association for the past two years.

Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai was invited to give away the prizes yesterday.

Other winners were Jamalusaid bin Abu Noh, Sabah (fourth place); AK Musmah Body Hardi Pg Hj Mustapa, Brunei (fifth); Naslin bin Mohammad, Sabah (sixth); Mohammad Taib Alikhan, Brunei (seventh); Chen Yu, Guangdong (eighth); Juntha bin Shamsuddin, Sabah (ninth) and Haji Mohammad Hasruin bin Haji Serudin, Brunei (tenth). They each received RM500 cash prize, a medal and fishing tackles.

Also present was Sabah Fisheries Department assistant director Sapli Hj Mulok.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by BORNEO POST

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