Sarawak aiming to be 19th Sopma overall champion

Dr Abdul Rahman chairing the meeting yesterday with (from left) Dr Ong, Abang Shamsudin and Albert Wong.

KUCHING: Sarawak is targeting at least 12 gold medals and to emerge as overall champion for the 19th Malaysia Deaf Games (Sopma) from Sept 30 to Oct 7.

The state will also be hosting the national games for the deaf for the first time. Athletes will be competing in four sports – athletics, badminton, ten-pin bowling and men’s football.

Assistant Minister of Welfare and Community Development Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail said Sarawak athletes have shown potential to excel in athletics and tenpin bowling.

“The purpose of Sopma is to identify and produce deaf athletes who have the potential to compete on the international arena, such as the Asean Deaf Games, Asia Pacific Deaf Games and Deaflympics Games,” he told reporters after chairing the Establishment and Coordination of Committee Members for Sopma XIX 2016 held at Masja here yesterday.

Sarawak finished sixth with two gold medals at the 18th Sopma held at Malacca two years ago.

Dr Abdul Rahman urged members of the public to give their support to the state athletes to boost their spirit. He disclosed that hosting the games cost RM2.2 million.

A total of 700 athletes from 13 states excluding Perlis will compete in the games organised by Sarawak Deaf Sports Association (SSDeaf) in collaboration with the Ministry of Welfare, Women and Community Development.

The Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem is expected to declare open the 19th Sopma at Stadium Perpaduan Sarawak on Oct 1. The closing ceremony will be held at Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Oct 6.

In another development, Malaysian Deaf Sports Association’s (MSDeaf) Kamarzaman Harun said Sopma was a platform for the deaf sports to be included in the Sports Act in the near future whereby athletes who win in Sopma will represent Malaysia at the Asia Pacific Games and Deaflympics Games.

Also present at yesterday’s meeting were Chef De Mission of the Sarawak contingent Abang Shamsudin Abang Seruji, Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee and SSDeaf president Albert Wong Tuong Chai.