OPTIMISTIC: Lee (second left), accompanied by staff of the Sarawak State Sports Council, taking a stroll at the new Kuching Aquatics Centre. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Eight gold target based on swimmers’ performance in Melaka Games.
The head of Sarawak Sukma contingent Datuk Lee Kim Shin said that he was confident that the state swimmers would be able to win eight gold medals at Sukma XV, Kuantan Pahang in July.
“The expected medals haul were based on our performance in Melaka where we won four gold and other medals were silver,” he disclosed yesterday.
The Sports Assistant Minister, accompanied by Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) director Francis Nyurang Ding was visiting the newly-built Kuching Aquatics Centre to see the state swimmers trained.
Despite of having good swimmers, Lee lamented that athletes like Erika Kong, Vernon Lee and Hii Siew Siew would not be allowed to compete in more than two events in the next Sukma.
“No doubt it will lessen our gold medal haul but I am confident that the others will be able to win medals,” he added.
For the record, 14 swimmers (seven boys and seven girls) will be short-listed to represent Sarawak.