Fatimah (second row third left), Dr Abdul Rahman (second row fourth left) join the athletes in waving state colours in the spirit of ‘Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban’ at the Youth and Sports Department complex yesterday.
Fatimah (second right) embracing one of the athletes after the flag handing over ceremony yesterday.
KUCHING: The 201-strong state contingent will be chasing Sarawak’s 12th national title at the National Paralympiad from Aug 6-10.
Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Well-being Datuk Fatimah Abdullah revealed that the team’s target is 80 gold medals to extend Sarawak’s unbroken string of victories in the national championships since 1994.
“Let us retain this title for the 12th time and come out in full force especially when we are the host for the games,” said Fatimah during the handing of the state colours to the chef-de-mission Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail at the Youth and Sports Department complex yesterday.
The state contingent, she added, are aiming to win 38 gold medals in swimming, athletics (30), ten-pin bowling (5), powerlifting (4) and one each in table tennis, chess and badminton.
No targets are set for archery and lawn bowl as Sarawak will be competing in these two sports for the first time.
At the last National Paralympiad in Perlis in 2014, the state athletes bagged 66 gold, 44 silver and 22 bronze medals.
Dr Abdul Rahman who is also the assistant minister of welfare, women and commuity well-being said the athletes have been undergoing centralised training at the Youth and Sports complex since July 27.
As chef-de-mission, Dr Abdul Rahman will be assisted by three deputies namely Abang Shamsudin (social and welfare department state director), Abdul Haris Ishak (youth and sports department state director) and Rokayah Madon (state education director).
A total of 1,400 athletes will be taking part in the 18th National Paralympiad to be held in Kuching and Kota Samarahan.
Athletics will be held at Sarawak Stadium, lawn bowl (Sarawak Lawn Bowl Arena), powerlifting (Dewan Jubli, UiTM Kota Samarahan), swimming (Sarawak Aquatics Centre), ten-pin bowling (Megalanes Sarawak) while Unimas) will host archery, badminton and chess.
The initial venue for table tennis at Stadium Perpaduan has been changed to the Kota Samarahan indoor stadium.
The opening ceremony will be officiated by the Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem at Stadium Perpaduan on Aug 6.