Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia - 24 November, 2011: While the ISAF Match Racing World Championship title is on the line here at the Monsoon Cup there are other prizes at stake which the local community of Kuala Terengganu are eager to take home.

Throughout the duration of the Monsoon Cup the venue will host a variety of additional activities such as the Terengganu Muay Thai Open Championship, the Sailing Championship Search and the Sasuke Malaysia competition.

With prize money and the glory of winning on the line the locals love to get involved in these side events which help make the Monsoon Cup Malaysia’s second biggest sporting event. While the Muay Thai competitors come over from Thailand, the local musicians get the competition spirit going with traditional music during the build-up of a fight. The Sasuke Malaysia competition gives locals a chance to test their fighting spirit in a Japanese samurai style obstacle course.

The Sailing Championship Search takes the sport back to grassroots level aiming to find the best rower based on who is the fastest to reach 1km on an ergo. The fastest person not only takes the title of the best rower in Terengganu but also a cash prize. 

While Terengganu is known for producing rowers that go on to become national champions, sailing is still a relatively new sport. Asmadi Bin Mahamad, Senior Assistant Secretary with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia said: “It all helps to promote sailing - it’s still a new sport in Malaysia so it needs a lot of promotion. We have an amazing long coastal area so this provides a good chance to get the locals involved in sports like sailing.”

Throughout the week these events not only take place at the Monsoon Cup site but also across two other venues. With 16 side events taking place, the events range from a kayaking to tug of war and arm wrestling. Additionally, to help promote the event across all 7 districts of Terengganu, carnivals were staged each weekend during the last month. 

Ahmad Khailani Bin Muhammad, Recreational Sports Officer with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia said: “It’s all about promoting the Monsoon Cup to the local community and throughout Malaysia. A lot of the people in Terengganu don’t know much about the Monsoon Cup so by creating these side events that they can participate in helps to get them involved.”