SHAH ALAM: The long-awaited Media Prima Golf Tournament 2023 today saw an impressive turnout of 30 players from Media Prima Berhad (MPB), signalling a return to golfing activities post Covid-19 pandemic.
Organised jointly by the NSTP sports club and the Media Prima Group Human Resources Department, this championship stood as a testament to the resurgence of golfing events that were once an annual highlight before the pandemic struck.
The golf tournament, a pivotal feature of the Media Prima Sports Carnival, formed part of a larger spectrum of sporting events that included bowling, volleyball, badminton and futsal.
The event saw participation from a diverse array of MPB staff representing various entities such as the New Straits Times (NST), Berita Harian (BH), Harian Metro, TV3, Omnia, MPB Group Human Resources Department, NSTP Multimedia, PTSB Production, Big Tree, and the MPB Group Marketing Department.
The tournament was segregated into two principal categories — medal A and medal B — each witnessing spirited competition among the contenders. Alongside these distinctions, two lucky draws were also held, each selecting 15 recipients.
In the Medal A category, Mahathir Mohamad Sidi from MPB/GCC emerged victorious, triumphing over Ashraff Effendy from Big Tree, who secured an impressive second place. The third position was clinched by Nur Afiqah Azizan from the group marketing department, closely followed by Addie Azam from Big Tree, securing the fourth spot.
Meanwhile, in the Medal B category, the top positions were claimed by Omnia representatives, with Roche Chew securing the coveted first place and Sharifah Omar securing a commendable second position. Adi Sarif Mohamed Anuar from PTSB Production claimed the third position, adding to the tournament's fervour and competitive spirit.
The prize-giving ceremony was graced by distinguished VIPs including MPB Group Human Resources Department group general manager Nor Arzlin Redzwan, NST group editor Farrah Naz Karim, Berita Harian group editor M. Thillinadan and Harian Metro group editor Husain Jahit.
Expressing her pride in the diverse and enthusiastic participation, Nor Arzlin highlighted the event's success as a catalyst for potential future endeavours.
"So, God willing, this will not be the final match because the response has been very encouraging.
"I've spoken with the HR team and some of the organisers that maybe we should do our sports carnival like a league. So that it will be continuous, and not just playing once and then wait for another year to play again." she said.
Commending the formation of a women's team, Nor Arzlin emphasised the importance of teamwork and the spirit of sportsmanship.
"So, regardless of winning or losing, the spirit of playing together is very commendable," she added.