Sportsmanship in Action: ATM Sailing Team Wins Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award
The Royal Langkawi International Regatta (RLIR) 2025 has seen its fair share of excitement and drama, but none more so than the heroic actions of the ATM Sailing Team. The team, representing Malaysia in the Racing class with their yacht Uranus, has been awarded the Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award for their selfless act of assisting a capsized yacht during the regatta.
A Heroic Act
On the fourth day of the regatta, the ATM Sailing Team was still competing in the eighth round when they noticed the nearby Australian team Boreas’ yacht capsizing. Without hesitation, the team decided to stop their race and assist the distressed crew. Captain Hasani Izhar recounted the incident, saying, "Upon seeing their yacht overturn, we discussed and unanimously decided to stop and end our race to assist Boreas. When we arrived, we immediately provided emergency first aid to one crew member who had a shoulder injury."
The team’s swift action did not stop there. They transferred five other crew members and their belongings to Uranus, provided ropes, and contacted the Marine Police for emergency assistance and efforts to salvage the capsized yacht. Hasani added that after stabilising the capsized yacht, some of his team members assisted the Boreas crew in pumping out water from 4 pm until 8 pm.
A Meaningful Award
The Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award is presented to individuals or teams who demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship, whether at sea or onshore, throughout RLIR. The winner is determined by the highest number of votes cast by race participants. Hasani expressed the team’s pride and honour in receiving the award, saying, "Even though we didn’t win in the Racing class, we are deeply honoured and proud to receive this meaningful award. It is the first time we’ve been recognised with such an award since our debut in RLIR in 2006."
A Lesson in Sportsmanship
The ATM Sailing Team’s actions serve as a powerful reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and putting the needs of others before one’s own. In a competitive environment, it is easy to get caught up in the pursuit of victory, but the team’s selfless act shows that there is more to sailing than just winning.
Conclusion
The ATM Sailing Team’s heroic act has set a high standard for sportsmanship in the sailing community. Their willingness to put the needs of others before their own is a testament to the values of teamwork, compassion, and responsibility. As we look to the future, we can only hope that more teams will follow in their footsteps and demonstrate the same level of sportsmanship and dedication to the sport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award?
A: The Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award is presented to individuals or teams who demonstrate exemplary sportsmanship, whether at sea or onshore, throughout RLIR.
Q: Who was the recipient of the Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award in RLIR 2025?
A: The ATM Sailing Team, representing Malaysia in the Racing class with their yacht Uranus, was the recipient of the Tunku Abdullah Sportsmanship Award in RLIR 2025.
Q: What was the ATM Sailing Team’s heroic act that earned them the award?
A: The team stopped their race to assist a capsized yacht, providing emergency first aid, transferring crew members, and contacting the Marine Police for emergency assistance and efforts to salvage the capsized yacht.