Kota Kinabalu: Eighteen teams competed in the Mobile Legends Bang Bang tournament held in conjunction with Sabah Day and one story stood out beyond the battle for trophies. A group of hearing-impaired youths, known as Kameha, despite having no high expectations, proved they could stand on equal footing with other teams. For Kameha captain Zico Lucky, their journey was not just about winning or losing but about courage in overcoming obstacles.“Compared to normal players, we need to use sign language while playing. That is the biggest challenge but we are happy because we finally got to compete with other teams,” he said in sign language. Behind Kameha’s courage was Malaysian Sign Language interpreter Era Fazirah Jualaan, who played a key role in the team.“I know they are very passionate about Mobile Legends. So when this tournament came up, I felt compelled to bring them to join. “The main challenge was making sure they were constantly training and prepared, but I’m proud that they finally stood at the same level as other teams,” she said.
Head Marshall of the tournament, Firdaus Liau Junior, said this year’s participation was encouraging, with over 100 players compared to previous smaller editions.“There were participants as young as 15, and even some aged 52 playing alongside their children. There was no age limit, as long as they could play.“We also received participation from an overseas team from Brunei Darussalam,” he said when met at Padang Merdeka. Firdaus said e-sports is no longer just entertainment but a platform that instils discipline, builds teamwork and diverts youths from unhealthy social activities.“The presence of parents giving moral support shows that e-sports has been accepted as a positive platform for the younger generation,” he said during the Mobile Legends Bang Bang e-sports competition. The event was co-organised with Jaysung Management, a company active in Sabah’s e-sports ecosystem.More than just a competition, the tournament brought together youths, adults and persons with disabilities under one spirit – to showcase talent and ability.