Francis Nyurang Ding
KUCHING: Sarawak will be competing in four more events at Sukma XVI in Kuala Lumpur from June 28 to July 7 and it include basketball, cricket, men’s handball and rugby.
The total of number of events which the state will be participating at the coming games now stands at 12 so far, the others being table tennis, judo, bodybuilding, futsal (men’s), muay thai, fencing, indoor volleyball (women’s) and artistic gymnastics.
However, the associations fielding teams for the four sports will have to bear their own expenses which would be reimbursed later by Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) should they win
medals or at least make it to the quarterfinals of their respective events.
This is because they are competing under category ‘C’ at the annual national games.
MSNS director Francis Nyurang Ding said this decision was made at its recent selection committee meeting held on Monday.
He said all 12 sports have not safely secured their tickets to KL Sukma and may face the possibility of being dropped from the list if the performance of their athletes failed to meet the criteria set by the council.
“We will make a final assessment of the teams that are participating under category A and B in April and if the performance of the athletes of any sport decline, then we may not be sending that team to Sukma,” said Francis, adding that the registration for all events would close in May.
Francis said MSNS will also not force any sports association under category C to send teams to the Games.
“It will be up to them. But they need to inform us the latest by end of April if they decide not to participate,” he stressed.
The director also advised the sports associations concerned to send medal potentials as “Sukma is not an avenue for athletes’ exposure”.
At present, the Sarawak contingent will comprise of 150 athletes and officials that will be headed by permanent secretary to the Ministry of Social Development Affandi Keli who will accompanied by Francis as his assistant.
Sarawak finished in 12th position at the last Sukma held in Kuala Lumpur with two gold medals, one each from judo and table tennis, four silvers and eight bronzes.