KUCHING: The Sarawak women’s team created history when they finished third at the 40th National Open Softball Championship held at Padang Utama, Penang Free School on Monday.
The Sarawak women’s team celebrating their third placing finish at the end of the National Open Softball Championship in Pulau Pinang with Ishak (left) and Bacarisas (right, squatting). — Photo courtesy of Ishak Chin Abdullah.
Playing in Group E, Sarawak shook off a losing start 0-24 to host Pulau Pinang and bounced back strongly to hammer Politeknik KPT 15-0 and beat Johor 11-1 to set up a semi-final clash with Perak which they won 6-0.
They narrowly lost 2-3 to Masum in the final.
Since 2006 when Sarawak first participated in the National Open, the team’s best achievement was finishing fourth for three times.
“It was mostly a top 5-6 finish for the women’s team in the last five years,” said Sarawak Softball Association (SSA) president Ishak Chin Abdullah.
“I’m extremely happy with our breakthrough this year to No. 3 position,” he said yesterday in a telephone interview from Kampung Sungai Nibong Besar, Pulau Pinang
“I want to thank our Sarawak State Sports Council chief coach Manuel Bacarisas because after one and half years in Sarawak, he has helped bring our level higher.”
Ishak also thanked coaches from Kolej Vokasional, Kolej Tuanku Haji Bujang, SMK St Columba and clubs and all SSA coaches involved in the development programme in the last few years.
“For the men, it’s a tough journey ahead and the best results we achieved so far is two times making it to the quarter-finals.
“It’s very competitive in the West Malaysian states where their development programmes at U12 are very well organised. All the coaches taught proper fundamental skills whereas in Sarawak, some of the skills taught by school coaches are wrong techniques,” he said.