Jelinie and Yeo pose at the incentive presentation ceremony last Friday.
KUCHING: State weightlifting coach Edmund Yeo believes that Sarawak’s Jelinie Empera, who won the title of Sportswoman of the recent 17th Sukma, has what it takes to go far in the sport.
Speaking to The Borneo Post yesterday, he is hoping that Jelinie’s journey will not end after Sukma.
“Sukma is just the stepping stone and if she still wants to compete in the sport, she too must realise things will get even more challenging for her after this,” he said.
He is, however, confident that all it takes is for Jelinie to continue training and wait for the call-up for the national team.
Commenting on his star athlete, Yeo revealed that she is a hardworking athlete who will not stop until she reaches her target.
After winning her Sukma accolades last week, Jelinie herself vowed to go on as long as she can in the sport. She is now looking forward to starting a new chapter of her life and representing the country as her next goal.
“It will be a great honour if I can represent my country. I hope I can be given chance to prove myself,” she said.
Jelinie will not be eligible for the next Sukma as she turns 21 this year.
Last Friday, she received RM22,000 during the Sukma incentive presentation ceremony.
“I have yet to decide on what should I do with the money I received but, whatever it is, it will be for the good of my career and development,” she had said at the ceremony.
At the recent Sukma in Perlis, Jelinie broke two records after lifting 85kg and 105kg in the clean & jerk and snatch respectively for the 75kg category.