Lee (second row, fifth left) posing with Liew (fourth left), Sarawak tennis officials and players at the SLTA centre on Tuesday.
KUCHING: The state tennis team is confident that they can win at least four gold medals at this year’s Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Perlis.
Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) president Dato Patrick Liew believes the players have enough firepower to go up against those from the other states.
“We have been preparing for this and, with hard work and a positive mindset, we can do this. There is no obstacle too great if we put our mind to it,” he said.
Liew was speaking to reporters during a press conference at the SLTA headquarters and tennis centre here at Jalan Crookshank on Tuesday.
Also present during the event was Assistant Sports Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin, who was visiting the Sukma-bound players training there, and Sarawak Sports Council (MSNS) tennis co-ordinator Ramlie Ahmad.
Nine boys and eight girls are in the Sukma tennis shadow team.
“Most of our players are training here at the SLTA tennis centre while three are still training in the United States. They will return here soon for centralised training,” Liew added.
Meanwhile, Lee commented that winning four gold medals should be enough to guarantee the state team emerging as tennis overall champions at Sukma 2014.
“Winning more than four is a bonus and, as I have said before, the more the merrier. I hope the players are determined as the state have incentives waiting for them,” he said.
Sarawak athletes will be rewarded with RM5,000 for their first gold medal and RM7,000 for any subsequent gold at Sukma this year.
The state last competed in tennis at the 2010 Sukma in Melaka when Sarawak won three gold medals.