SUKMA 2024: Four National Records, Seven Games Marks Fall

By Vikneswaran Raman

KUCHING, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- The 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) came alive today when four national records and seven Games marks were obliterated on a day that had 59 gold medals at stake.

Perak weightlifter Qistina Qharisya Suffia Mohd Muzani was the star of the show when she broke three national records en route to winning gold in the women’s 45-kilogramme (kg) category, lifting 65kg in snatch, 79kg in clean and jerk for a 144kg total lift.

The 19-year-old efforts erased the old marks (snatch 59kg, clean and jerk 77kg  and total 136kg) set by Nurul Afiqah Zamzuri at the Philippines SEA Games in 2019.

Several new records were also set in swimming and athletics, which began today.

Selangor swimmer Andrew Goh clocked one minute and 01.39 seconds (1:01.39s) at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre to better his own national record in the men’s 100m breaststroke.

The Federal Territories swimmers also broke three Games records to end their campaign today with three golds, three silvers and two bronzes.

Muhammad Dhuha Zulfikry broke the 16-year record in men’s 200m freestyle by clocking 1:50.03s; Jayden Tan stopped the clock at 4:26.94s in the men’s 400m individual medley and Chong Xin Lin set a new time of 29.74s in women’s 50m backstroke.

At the Sarawak Stadium, three more SUKMA records were broken but it was the blue riband event - men’s and women’s 100m - that stole the show.

Johor’s Danish Iftikhar Muhammad Roslee (10.53s) and Selangor’s Nur Afrina Batrisyia Mohamad Rizal were crowned SUKMA 2024 sprint king and sprint queen respectively, with Nur Afrina’s 11.64s being a Games new record.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Jonah Chang Rigan erased the 14-year meet record in men’s shot put with a distance of 17.66m, while Khor Jing Hong of the Federal Territories bettered the 20,000m walk record by clocking 1:34:38.20s.

As of 11 pm today, Sarawak retained top position in the medal standings after collecting 34 golds, 22 silvers and 25 bronzes, followed by the Federal Territories (27-23-34) and Terengganu (12-15-17).

It will be another action-packed day tomorrow as 78 gold medals will be up for grabs, with 32 of them contested in martial arts like muaythai (14), silat (8), judo (4), silambam (4) and taekwondo (2).

Athletics offers 13 gold medals tomorrow and aquatics 12 golds (9 for swimming and three for diving). 

-- BERNAMA