230 athletes attend camp for Sukma preparation

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Participants undergoing activities at the contingent camp.

Participants undergoing activities at the contingent camp.

LUNDU: It was an enjoyable and memorable experience for State Sukma XVIII athletes during the state contingent camp at Pueh training camp in Sematan from December 12-17.

The contingent camp was part of the preparations for Sukma XVIII to be held in Sarawak next year.

All who went through the activities in the six-day (three days for each group) camp were happy to have attended and even asked for more.

The first batch of participants were from archery, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics, boxing, tennis, shooting, men’s and women’s hockey while the second batch involved those from cycling, weight lifting, tenpin bowling, volleyball, swimming, diving, sepak takraw, silat, squash and taekwondo.

SEA Games athletes like cyclist Rosmina Minggu, taekwondo exponent Nur Ifa Husna and silat athlete Mohd Firdaus Rahmat were among the 230 athletes which included those in the shadow teams.

To Rosmina, the camp was tough but she wished it could be even tougher as she is used to the activities having attended three such camps.

Firdaus also preferred it to be tougher and said it reminded him to stay sharp, disciplined and motivated.

Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) assistant director Abdul Muktalib Muhamad, who is the organising chairman of the camp, said the objective of the camp was to instil values like learning to communicate and working together for the Sarawak team.

Camp commandant Nordin Pawi said the emphasis was on the discipline and teamwork to ensure the athletes understand and learn the essentials of qualities such as timing or punctuality and discipline.

“The target is getting them to work together as a team and discipline must be enforced for any shirker as it will send the correct message to the team as a whole.

“Anyone who does not tow the line will be reminded by having to do exercises,” said Nordin who preferred to call punishments as just reminders.

In closing the camp, MSNS deputy director Lucas Kalang Laeng said he was satisfied with the outcome as he saw a sense of achievement and smiling faces among the trainees at the end of the camp.