JUBILATION: Sarawak’s women volleyball players celebrate after winning the final against arch-rivals Johor in Kuantan yesterday. Sarawak won 3-1 for the gold. — Photos by Chimon Upon
KUANTAN: Sarawak hit the golden trail on the eighth day of competition in Sukma XV yesterday when they captured seven more gold medals to bring their total gold tally to 40.
The golds were won in silat, weightlifting, women’s volleyball, archery and petanque.
Said Muhammad Imran Sahul Hamid delivered the state’s first gold of the day by emerging the winner in the men’s silat Putera Class F. His teammates Mohammad Affendi Ali, Mohammad Hisham Meran, Mohamad Drusani Jemain, Zaranah Zulkifli and Maliana Rajalan won a bronze each.
Jelinie Empera followed the success of her teammate Filicia Muyat on Friday by winning two gold medals in the women’s 75kg and above snatch and women’s 75kg and above clean and jerk while Carmila Runggit picked up a silver in the men’s 94kg clean and jerk and a bronze in the men’s 94kg snatch category.
In women’s volleyball, Sarawak beat arch-rivals Johor 3-1 in the final played at SJK (C) Chung Ching volleyball court.
After missing the bull’s eye for four days, Sarawak archers finally found their target as Wong Cheng Teck and Cheryl Rudang Goh shot down the golds in the men’s 50m compound individual and women’s 70m recurve individual respectively while Lau Jiun Sien added another silver to her medal collection when she came second in the women’s 50m compound individual.
MASTER LIFTER: Sarawak’s Carmila Rungit in action during the 94kg snatch event. Carmila took the bronze with a total lift of 124kg.
Petanque also contributed a gold from Mohd Abdul Akram Suip and Sharulrina Enterin in the mixed doubles and a bronze in the men’s triples of Ezrihafizurahman Razali, Mohd Zarafi Merais and Muhammed Ezzaimee Abdullah.
Meanwhile, Sarawak’s men’s badminton doubles pair of Lai Zing Neng and Roni Tan failed to advance after they were beaten 2-0 (21-10, 22-20) by third seeds Ow Yao Han-Tai An Khang of Melaka.
They will now play fourth seeds Tan Wee Tat and Teo Ee Yi of Johor for the bronze medal in the third/fourth placing play-off.
At 7.30pm yesterday, Sarawak are still in fourth place in the medals table with 40 golds, 26 silvers and 34 bronzes and still harbouring the hope of reaping more golds in the next two days of competition to finish among the top three teams.
Breakaway leaders Terengganu have 53 golds, 23 silvers and 25 bronzes while Selangor have 45 golds, 48 silvers and 51 bronzes and host team Pahang are in third place with 40 golds, 32 silvers and 31 bronzes.