KUALA LUMPUR: The heat was stifling, but the action at CAVE, PP Club, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur was hotter still as 32 teams battled for honours in the PAAB X Media Pickleball tournament today.
When the final rallies were played, Media Prima claimed all three podium spots, with TV3 taking the RM2,000 top prize, while New Straits Times (NST) teams finished second and third.
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Fathy Azlan and Syakirah Zulkifly clinched the title for TV3, while NST’s Wan Huzairy Wan Hussin and Hizreen Azleena Kama finished runners-up. Their NST colleagues, Intan Maizura Ahmad Kamal and Hazwan Alias, took third place to complete the all-Media Prima podium.
All four NST players are regulars on the media pickleball circuit, with multiple podium finishes to their credit.
The tournament brought together participants from media organisations and Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) for a day of spirited competition and camaraderie, offering colleagues who usually cross paths in newsrooms and at assignments a chance to connect outside their daily routines.
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Organised by PAAB in collaboration with the Malaysian Press Institute (MPI), the tournament was aimed at strengthening ties between the national water asset management company and its media partners.
Participating organisations included Bernama, NST, Berita Harian, Media Prima, TV3, Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Sinar Harian and TV AlHijrah.
PAAB chief executive officer Zulkiflee Omar said strong relationships with media practitioners were important in helping the company communicate its role in developing the country’s water infrastructure and improve public understanding of its work.
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“Media are important strategic partners to PAAB. Good relationships and mutual understanding enable information about PAAB’s role and efforts to be communicated to the public more effectively,” he said.
He said the tournament offered an opportunity for PAAB and media practitioners to interact outside formal engagements and daily work commitments, while encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle.