BATU KAWAN: The PETRONAS' booth was a hive of activity during the final round of the PETRONAS Cub Prix, which was held at the Batu Kawan Stadium here on Nov 26.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the PETRONAS Malaysian Cub Prix Championship, making it one of the longest-running partnerships in the Malaysian sporting arena.
The involvement of PETRONAS and its long-term commitment have revolutionised the Malaysian sports scene to be more structured and sustainable.
Mohd Akid Aziz was crowned the overall champion with victory in the CP150 category for CKJ Racing.
Despite the scorching heat, a large crowd made a beeline to participate in a string of activities held at the booth.
One of the highlights was the badminton match between Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) national shuttlers – Muhammad Shaqeem Eiman Shahyar and Siti Nurshuhaini Azman and Cub Prix riders – Mohamad Syamil Amsyar, Mohamad Iffende, Muhammad Adam Haikal Jahar and Amirun Haziq Johan.
The national players and young Cub Prix riders were an instant hit with the crowd, who also took the opportunity to have their selfies and wefies taken with the young talents.
Joining them in the badminton match were Hot FM announcers Aisha and Ayu, under Media Prima Audio (MPA), and several members from the crowd.
Other activities included quizzes on PETRONAS Cub Prix and PETRONAS Malaysia Open and interactive games, which included motorcycle racing simulation.
Lucky visitors also walked away with exciting PETRONAS merchandise.
The PETRONAS Malaysia Open, an international badminton tournament, is part of the BWF World Tour Super 1000 series, with a total prize pool of US$1,250,000.
The PETRONAS Malaysia Open 2024 will be held from Jan 9 to Jan 14 next year at the Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil.
PETRONAS' support helps enhance the training and preparation of the national players, especially in the run-up to the 2024 Paris Olympics, as well as contributes to BAM's overall development programmes.
Siti Nurshuhaini, 19, said she was excited to be at the Cub Prix final here in Batu Kawan, with the various activities being held.
"My favourite is of course playing a game of my favourite sports with the Cub Prix riders.
"I am also happy to be able to meet with so many young badminton fans out there. Although they came for the Cub Prix, they did miss the opportunity to see us in action as well," she said.
Siti Nurshuhaini also thanked PETRONAS for bringing her to Batu Kawan, her first time at a Cub Prix event, and certainly a new experience for her.
"I hope the many young fans here will also come out to see us at the PETRONAS Malaysia Open next year. I want to thank PETRONAS for their kind sponsorship," she added.
For Muhammad Shaqeem Eiman, 22, he was delighted to see the 'noisy' and 'joyful' atmosphere out at the racing circuit.
"You see, the crowd is very controlled in a badminton court. But here, the vibes are very different. This is so fun for a first-timer like me. At least I get to see the outside rather than just training in court for hours in a day.
"I am also excited to see so many young people here and I hope they can come and support us at the badminton court during the PETRONAS Malaysia Open as well," he said, expressing gratitude to PETRONAS for bringing him to Batu Kawan.
Meanwhile, Zaidi Kassim, 36, a former rider himself, said he never failed to attend such events whenever and wherever they were held.
He took the opportunity to try the motorcycle racing simulation to experience the "real fun", saying that despite it being a simulation, he felt that he was in an actual race.
"PETRONAS never fails to amaze us with the various activities planned each time. When you talk about Cub Prix, you automatically associate it with the PETRONAS brand name, which I am a supporter of.
"Besides the activities, I also enjoy seeing their merchandise as an avid fan of motoring," he said.
