SMK Tabuan Jaya retains title in Sibu Open c’ship

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CHAMPIONS AGAIN: SMK Tabuan Jaya athletes and their coaches in jovial mood after they successful retaining their title at the recent Sibu Open track and field championship held at Stadium Tun Zaidi, Sibu on Sept 2. — Photo courtesy of Mohd Khairil Fitrie

KUCHING: Defending champion, SMK Tabuan Jaya retained its crown at the recent Sibu Open track and field championship held at Stadium Tun Zaidi, Sibu.

The state’s sports school emerged victorious in the second edition of the Sibu games after its 48 athletes stamped their mark by bagging the largest medal haul in the Men’s open, Girls’ under 14 and Boys’ under 14 categories as well as finishing as runners-up in the Women’s open.

The team captured a total of 21 gold, 19 silver and 19 bronze medals to reign supreme in the two-day championship organised by Sibu Amateur Athletic Association.

According to the school’s principal, Hassan Wa’gani the event served as a good avenue for its athletes to gain exposure.

“Although we have collected lesser gold medals this year, the haul in silver and bronze medals has increased and our athletes had also won RM4,900 in cash prizes,” he said on the school which captured 22 gold medals, 16 silvers and 15 bronzes in the same event last year.

He praised the athletes particularly Norris Foo who set two new meet records in the Girls’ under 14 100m hurdles where she clocked 15.4s and also in the Girls’ Under 14 100m sprint with a new time of 12.7s.

“Norris is a good, well-mannered and disciplined student as well as a good athlete… I can see tremendous potential in her to go far in athletics,” said Hassan.

Another outstanding athlete who deserves much praise is Quek Lee Yong who won the Boys’ under 14 400m gold with a record time of 54.3s.

“We will continue to groom our athletes to represent the state at the coming MSSM track and field Cchampionship or other national competitions. After the UPSR, we will be embarking on a state-wide search of talents especially those studying in primary six,” said Hassan on the school’s next course of actions.