KOTA KINABALU: After a five-year hiatus, the highly anticipated Borneo Pangazou competition made a triumphant return here, drawing nearly 400 athletes from across the region.
The event, which took place over three action-packed days recently at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex, marked the revival of one of Malaysia's premier functional fitness challenges.
Event director Dr Timothy Cheng said this year's return of Borneo Pangazou was an incredible moment.
"It was thrilling to witness such an amazing display of strength, endurance, and camaraderie from athletes across Asia.
"The energy and spirit of the participants were truly inspiring," he said in a statement.
Founded in 2015, Borneo Pangazou, meaning "warrior" in the Dusun language, has grown into a key fitness competition.
This year's event attracted athletes from countries such as China, the Philippines, Brunei, and Thailand.
The top 150 athletes, who advanced to the finals, faced seven grueling workouts that tested their strength and stamina.
A participant from Brunei, known only as Mayul emerged as the Male Pangazou champion, while Malaysia's Hui Lian secured the Female Pangazou title.
Both walked away with RM2,000 in cash prizes, a Beoka massage gun, and Standard Issue vouchers. In the team category,
Team JENS from Malaysia took home RM4,000 and exclusive gear.
A total of RM30,000 in cash prizes was distributed among top performers.
"This event has always been about pushing athletes to their limits, but it also brings people together," added Dr Cheng.
Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Julinus Jimit presented the prizes to winners.