Morshidi gestures with (from left) Lea Group managing director Raymond Sim, Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee, deputy state secretary Datu Misnu Taha and permanent secretary to Social Development Ministry Kameri Affandi after unveiling the gold medals target.
SANTUBONG: Sarawak’s target of winning 72 gold medals and emerging as overall champions in the 18th Sukma is achievable.
This is the belief of State secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Morshidi Abdul Ghani who advised athletes and officials to work together and stay focused while giving their very best for the state during the games from July 22-31. Sarawak can capture its fourth Sukma crown after victories in 1990, 1992 and 1994.
“Forget about all your problems and just focus on winning gold medals and earn glory for Sarawak,” he told the athletes at the closing of Sukma XVIII athletes motivation camp themed “Kamek Mok Emas” (We Want Gold) at a hotel here yesterday.
Three hundred athletes from sports such as hockey, tennis, petanque, lawn bowls, cycling, silat, boxing, weightlifting, shooting, archery, golf, karate, optimist sailing, squash and sepak takraw participated in the three-day camp.
Among the camp speakers were University Malaya professor Dr Balbir Singh, Sabah’s sports science faculty psychology lecturer PK Suppiah and professor Dr Nik Shanita Safi.
Morshidi said Sarawak also aim to the champion of the best Sukma ever organised.
“We have spent RM350 million in building and upgrading the sports facilities in preparing for Sukma XVIII,” he added.
The 72 golds targeted are expected to be won through swimming (10), athletics (8), wushu (6), taekwondo (5), silat (5), shooting (5), weightlifting (4) cycling (4), boxing (3), archery (3), golf (3), tennis (2), squash (2), volleyball (2), petanque (2), diving (2) lawn bowls (2), karate (2), artistic gymnastics (1) and badminton (1).
At the 17th Sukma held in Perlis two years ago, Sarawak finished in third spot with 48 gold, 32 silver and 35 bronze medals behind Kuala Lumpur and Terengganu.