SUKMA 2016: Sarawak aims major haul of gold from swimming

May 09, 2016

Morshidi gestures with (from left) Lea Group managing director Raymond Sim, Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee, deputy state secretary Datu Misnu Taha and permanent secretary to Social Development Ministry Kameri Affandi after unveiling the gold medals target. -source

KUCHING: Sarawak is aiming big in this coming SUKMA which is to be held in the state from July 22 to 31.

It is inadequate to merely emerge as the overall champions with a minimum target of 72 gold medals -  it also wants to be the best organiser for the games.

The State Government has spent a whopping sum of RM350 million to build new buildings as well as upgrading sporting facilities for the games.

Therefore, it is logical for the host state to aim big as to justify the spending.

The Land of Hornbill finished third with 48 gold, 32 silver and 35 bronze behind Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu two years ago.

This time around the state is determined to take advantage of competing on the familiar ground to clobber its way to harvest the targeted 72 gold medals.

Sarawak is banking on swimming to deliver the most gold medals to the state - i.e. 11 gold medals.

The rest are expected to be won through  athletics (8), wushu (6), taekwondo (5), silat (5), shooting (5), weightlifting (4) cycling (4), boxing (3), archery (3), golf (3), tennis (2), squash (2), volleyball (2), petanque (2), diving (2) lawn bowls (2), karate (2), artistic gymnastics (1) and badminton (1).

State secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani, when delivering his speech during a closing ceremony of SUKMA 18th motivational camp themed "Kamek Mok Emas" (I Want Gold) in a hotel here in Santubong, advised athletes and officials to work together and stay focused while giving their very best for the state.

“Forget about all your problems and just focus on winning gold medals and earn glory for Sarawak,” he was reported by a local English daily recently as telling three hundred athletes who participated in the three-day camp.

Sarawak was the overall champions in 1990, 1992 and 1994.