THE Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) should boost and strengthen its sports program to produce athletes at par with those seeing action in international events.

The call came from BARMM Member of Parliament Amir Mawallil, who hails from Tawi-Tawi, using as prime examples the extraordinary feats of Tawi-Tawian athletes Fatima Ayesha Amirul and Alnakran Abdilla, who won medals in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from May 5 to 17, 2023.

Amirul won gold medal in women’s soft tennis while Abdilla bagged bronze medal in men’s volleyball events.

Denmark Abdurasad, a Tausug athlete, grabbed the bonze medal in the men’s Tanding class D (60 to 65 kilograms) pencak silat event.

“Their performances in the last SEA Games were nothing short of spectacular, and it is indeed a great source of inspiration not only for our athletes in Tawi-Tawi but for those in BARMM who dream that someday they, too, will compete on a global stage,” Mawallil said in a statement Tuesday, May 30.

“Amirul, Abdilla and Abdurasad were once hopeful athletes and now they have made their mark. The Bangsamoro government should nourish these kinds of dreams as it puts the Bangsamoro on the map of the world,” he added.

Mawallil said his call also coincides with the 2023 Palarong Bangsamoro Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao Athletic Association (BARMMAA) sporting competition being held in Cotabato, which comes to a close Monday, May 29.

“There is no shortage of great athletes in the Bangsamoro, as can be seen in the ongoing Palarong BARMM. Thousands of athletes from 11 school divisions will be competing. An enhanced sports program can really help our citizens realize their dreams of competing in national and international sports events,” he said.

Mawallil disclosed he would study legislative measures that he can introduce to help strengthen BARMM’s sports programs. (SunStar Zamboanga)