Our state paralympic athletes did Sarawak proud by emerging champs in Melaka
Datuk Lee Kim Shin
KUCHING: Our state paralimpians for the ninth time have made the state proud by emerging as the consecutive champions of the 15th Paralympic Games in Melaka on Friday.
With a medal tally of 68 gold, 91 silver and 74 bronze medals, their major haul was through the swimming events, bagging a total of 37 gold which gave them the lead over second place, Johor who collected 54golds.
The games which started on Nov 21 to 26, saw our state athletes raking in 24 golds from athletics, four in tenpin bowling, two in powerlifting and one from badminton.
“Sarawak team have done very well for being the ninth time champions. It is a good achievement for the state paralympians,” said Datuk Lee Kim Shin, Social Development and Urbanisation Assistant Minister (Sports) yesterday.
On a different note, Lee enthused that the athletes should continue to improve and not sit on their laurels as athletes from the other states are catching up fast.
“In 2008, we captured more than a hundred gold medals as compared to this edition where we only managed sixty eight,” said Lee who took note that other states such as Johor and Kuala Lumpur who finished second and third are catching up fast.
To maintain Sarawak’s status as a powerhouse in paralympics, Lee disclosed that the Sports Masterplan Study also encompasses the paralympians to develop and improve the performance of the athletes who have different needs and abilities.
It was also earmarked before the contingent left for Melaka that there would be some increment in the cash incentives for the medal winners.
The current incentive, which is given by the state Welfare Department as said by their director, Kendy Edward is at RM1,000 for every gold medal, which is on par to the Sukma games.
“We leave it to the Welfare Department to decide on the amount of the incentives,” said Lee.
He also added that the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation together with the Sarawak State Sports Council are aiding the athletes in terms of coaching and support.