KUCHING: The Sarawak Amateur Athletic Association (SAAA) will give potential athletes the opportunity to compete at the coming Sukma XV in Kuantan, Pahang from July 7-16.
Its secretary Leong Beng Keong said although the state Sukma athletics team will not take part in all 45 events contested, all potential athletes will get the chance to gain exposure and prove their worth.
According to Leong, one such athlete is Jonathan Tinggang Ngabong who won the Boys U-15 high jump gold medal with a new record of 1.96m at the recent Malaysian Schools Sports Council track and field championship at Kangar, Perlis from May 22 to 26.
“We are selecting athletes based on their performances at the last Sukma and we are also fielding athletes in the events that we think they can win medals,” he said.
Leong said Sukma XIII gold medallists Jackie Wong Siew Cheer (hammer throw) and Kee Siew Lian (heptathlon) are among those included in the initial selection list.
Also in the list are 100m sprinter Ambrose Jilom and shot putter Casier Ranee Kelly Lee.
“The state athletics team will be finalised on June 9 and we will also select a few outstanding athletes who represented the state at the recent MSSM championship,” added Leong.
“After we have finalised the team, the list will be submitted to the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS).”
Asked when the athletes will attend the centralised training, he replied: “Due to logistics problem, the athletes will be training in their respective centres until two weeks before Sukma XV where they will converge in Kuching for the motivation camp.”
At Sukma XIII in Melaka two years ago, Sarawak won two gold, four silver and six bronze medals to finish eighth overall.