Sukma: WiPers set sights on 70 golds medals for top-two finish

By Thivyamalini Ramalu

PUTRAJAYA, July 28 (Bernama) -- The Federal Territories (WiPers) contingent will be banking on their 70 per cent-30 per cent ratio of newcomers and old faces to deliver the goods at the 21st edition of the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak from Aug 17-24.

Having set a 70-gold target, the WiPers are also looking for a top-two finish in the overall standings, having ended up third in the 2022 edition with 55 golds, 68 silvers and 64 bronzes.

Federal Territories Sports Council (MSWP) director Nik Ahmad Zahiruddin Nik Saleh said the WiPers, comprising athletes from Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan, are among the largest contingents this time with 711 athletes - 387 men and 324 women - who will compete in all 37 sports contested.

“Our golden hopes lie in rhythmic gymnastics and aquatics while the other regular gold contributors are our taekwondo and karate exponents. Let’s not forget that we also consistently won gold in netball,” he said in an interview recently.

He expects the WiPers to face stiff competition from hosts Sarawak, who also have the biggest team, Selangor, Terengganu and Johor and said that they (the WiPers) are in the final stretch of their intensive training ahead of the biennial Games. 

Asked about the athletes’ preparations, Nik Ahmad Zahiruddin said training sessions are ongoing, with athletes from several sports, like boxing, weightlifting and taekwondo, undergoing training overseas.

“This is because they are targeted sports and have the prospect of delivering gold medals. It’s common practice for the MSWP to send athletes to undergo overseas training annually to help them stay consistent.

“They will return home right before SUKMA. Some came back briefly to visit their families because we want continuity in their training overseas so that they can pick up from where they left off at the Sarawak SUKMA,” he said.

Nik Ahmad Zahiruddin, however, lamented the “loss of a guaranteed medallist” in archer Ariana Nur Dania Mohamad Zairi, who qualified to compete in the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics.

“This was supposed to be her first SUKMA outing and one of our gold medal hopes. But it’s definitely better for her to compete in the Olympics, even if it means she won’t be able to represent us at the SUKMA,” he said.

As for logistical matters in Sarawak, he said everything is going smoothly now and preparations are at the final stage.

“Only that the cost is huge. For example, the rental rate for a Myvi car (for use by athletes and officials) is RM180 a day and we are still negotiating with the car rental operator to lower it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the chief medical officer for the WiPers contingent, Dr Nik Haziman Wan Hamat said their health team comprised three sports doctors and 30 other health personnel, including physiotherapists and sports masseurs.

“Two doctors will be deployed in Kuching and one in Miri. We have also conducted health screenings for all the athletes, who are constantly reminded to take care of themselves and, if injured during training, to immediately seek treatment from us.

“The last few weeks before the start of SUKMA are crucial. If possible, we want the athletes to stay injury-free,” he said.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Dr Zaliha Mustafa was previously reported to have said that the WiPers are targeting 70 gold medals to emerge overall champions at the Sarawak SUKMA.

She also announced incentives of up to RM5,000 for gold medallists (individual and team events); RM2,000 for silver medallists and RM1,000 for bronze medallists to spur the athletes to step up to the plate.

The 2024 SUKMA will be held in nine divisions - Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri.

This year’s edition will see 488 events contested in 37 sports, involving 236 events for men, 217 for women and 35 mixed events, and a total of 12,619 athletes and officials are expected for the Games.  

SUKMA was introduced in 1986 and Sarawak has hosted it twice, in 1990 and 2016.

-- BERNAMA