SARAWAK MUAYTHAI SQUAD UNDERGOING TRAINING ABROAD - PMNS PRESIDENT

KUCHING, July 16 (Bernama) -- Sarawak's muaythai team is currently going through intensive training abroad to face the challenges of the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA) which will be held from August 17 to 24.

Sarawak State Muaythai Association (PMNS) president, Jumaat Ibrahim said with the exposure abroad they will be stronger and ready to defend the honour of Sarawak.

"We (the muaythai team) have tried our best to get the best preparations and send the athletes who will represent SUKMA to train not only in and outside of Sarawak, but also abroad... even now they are still overseas.

"God willing, we will be able to defend our status. In the last SUKMA, we got two gold, silver and bronze medals...all there," he said here.

Jumaat said he was optimistic that the Sarawak team would be able to give their best and respond to the call to bring glory to the state with more victories.

"We are also aware that some of the young exponents of Sarawak will definitely represent not only the state but also Malaysia at the international level in the sport of muaythai. This development is a source of pride for us at the association," he said.

The muaythai competition will start from August 15 to 20 in Bintulu at the Paragon Mall court.

SUKMA 2024 is seeing 37 types of sports contested involving 488 events consisting of 236 men's events, 217 women's events and another 35 mixed men's and women's events, apart from involving nine divisions namely in Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri.

SUKMA, which was introduced in 1986, has been held in Sarawak twice, in 1990 and 2016.

-- BERNAMA