Article by Jacklyn Chan Kooi Tai, Chairperson, Pahang Bar Sports Committee, Pahang Bar, and photos by the conveners for the respective games
2019 has been an exciting –– yet challenging –– year for Pahang Bar Committee. Given the honour of hosting the Interstate Bar Games 2019 ("ISBG"), the Pahang Bar Sports Committee took on the task of organising the ISBG as early as June 2019.
With fantastic teamwork from the ISBG Organising Committee under the leadership of Muthu Kumar Surya Kumanan as Chairperson and Jacklyn Chan Kooi Tai, Chairperson of the Pahang Bar Sports Committee, the ISBG was successfully held on 24 Aug 2019. The hard work and diligent efforts of the Organising Committee are to be applauded –– Zela Azni bt Nahizan (volleyball), Nur Hanisah bt Othman (ladies futsal), Mohamad Saifudin b Ab Rahman (darts), Ong Siew Wan (golf), Kartialiny Sivadahasan (badminton), Nurul Aznie bt Ibrahim (netball), Muhammad Amirul Afiqq b Mohamad Lokman (football) and Kevin Goh Ching Loong (cross–country).
Volleyball
Seven teams –– Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Selangor and Terengganu ––participated at the Indoor Arena, International Islamic University Malaysia ("IIUM"), Kuantan Campus. Kuala Lumpur Bar triumphed, while second and third places went to Selangor Bar and Kelantan Bar, respectively.
Ladies Futsal
Eight State Bars –– Johore, Kedah, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Pahang, Selangor and Terengganu –– participated in ladies futsal at Playground No. 6, Kuantan. This is the first time that Johore Bar sent a team for ladies futsal.
Every participating state showed major improvement from the previous year, as demonstrated by the completely unexpected result. There was a sense of shock when Kedah Bar emerged as the champion after a head–to–head final match with Melaka Bar, which had to settle for second place. Terengganu Bar was able to win against Kuala Lumpur Bar and secured third place through a sudden–death penalty round.
Basketball
Only four teams participated in basketball, which was held at Alor Akar Basketball Court –– Johore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Selangor. Johore Bar defeated last year's defending champion, Kuala Lumpur Bar, and emerged as champion after winning all its games. Selangor Bar finished in third place.
Darts
There were more participants this round compared to the last two years. Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Terengganu and new faces Pahang and Perlis made up a total of 10 teams. The trophy was won by Kedah Bar, second runner–up was Negeri Sembilan Bar and the Plate Cup went to Perak Bar. This event was held at Just Relax Cafe.
Golf
The golf tournament was played in the afternoon, at the Mahkota Golf and Country Club, Bandar Indera Mahkota.
In total, 69 golfers from Johore, Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Selangor and Terengganu took part.
Ridzuan Hazimi from the Pahang Bar won the Individual category, scoring the lowest gross points. For the team event, Kuala Lumpur Bar emerged victorious by scoring 173 points, followed by Johore Bar scoring 167 points, and Selangor Bar scoring 165 points. Pahang Bar scored 147 points and took fourth place.
Badminton
Six teams participated in this sport, namely Johore, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Penang and Selangor. Kuala Lumpur Bar once again emerged as champion, while Selangor Bar was first runner–up and Kelantan Bar took third place.
Netball
The eight participating teams –– Johore, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis and Selangor –– competed at Majlis Sukan Pahang ("SUKPA") Kuantan. Kuala Lumpur Bar tasted victory yet again, while Selangor Bar and Perak Bar took second and third places, respectively.
Football
Football is the most popular game in every ISBG. This year, the premier category saw a fight between 11 teams –– Johore, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Penang, Perak, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu. The ISBG matches were the first to be held at Sukan Arena Kuantan ("SAK"), a newly opened sports venue yet to be launched to the public.
Perak Bar reached the semi–finals and was narrowly beaten by Selangor Bar with a score of 0–1. The other semi–finalists were Melaka Bar and Kuala Lumpur Bar, won by the latter in a highly contested match. Selangor Bar secured the title of champion after edging out its Klang Valley rival, Kuala Lumpur Bar, through penalty kicks after the score was locked at 1–1 after 20 minutes of the grand finale match.
The five veteran teams –– Johore, Kelantan, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Terengganu –– competed for glory at Synthetic Field MPK 2. Selangor Bar finished at the top of the table as Kuala Lumpur Bar narrowly missed out on the league title, with the goal difference being the only deciding factor.
Cross–Country
Each State Bar was encouraged to participate in cross–country, which was introduced in this ISBG. Seven teams –– Kedah, Kuala Lumpur, Pahang, Penang, Perlis, Selangor and Terengganu –– took part in this inaugural game. Kuala Lumpur Bar was the winner, followed by Penang Bar, Selangor Bar, and Pahang Bar. The 5km run was held at the scenic campus of IIUM (Kuantan Campus).
Presentation of Awards
The ISBG concluded with the presentation of awards to the winners at the dinner held at Megaview Hotel, which was attended by 378 Members of the Bar. Kuala Lumpur Bar once again won the ISBG Challenge Trophy as the overall champion, with Selangor Bar as first runner–up and Kedah Bar as second runner–up.
Appreciation
Last but not least, Pahang Bar wishes to thank Muhammad Rafique b Rashid Ali and Peter–Douglas Ling (Co–Chairpersons of the Bar Council Sports Committee), and all the States Sport Chairpersons, conveners, volunteers, team captains and players, for making the ISBG a resounding success.