Sarawak paralympians to go on to compete in Rio

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Fatimah (second left) flanked by (from left) Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee (left),  Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Syed Aman Ghazali (second right) and Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) Sarawak director Abang Shamsudin Abang Seruji.

Fatimah (second left) flanked by (from left) Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee (left), Samariang assemblywoman Sharifah Hasidah Syed Aman Ghazali (second right) and Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat (JKM) Sarawak director Abang Shamsudin Abang Seruji.

KUCHING: Two state athletes, powerlifter Jong Yee Khie and swimmer Jamery Siga, will be representing the country in the upcoming Rio 2016 Paralympics taking place from Sept 7 to 18.

Jong was also chosen to become the flag bearer to represent Malaysia during the opening ceremony of the Paralympic games.

“We are very proud that these two athletes will be competing at an international stage,” said Minister of Welfare, Women and Community Wellbeing Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, who disclosed the news during a press conference at the Sarawak Aquatic Centre today (Aug 9).

Fatimah revealed that the state government had agreed to provide incentives to state athletes who have won medals.

“The paralympic athletes will also receive the same amount in training allowances as Sukma athletes. This will also bring significant impact to the athletes since most of them are working independently and paid on a daily basis. When they are not working, they will not get any pay. Thus, this means a big thing for them when the amounts are the same as the athletes of Sukma,” said Fatimah, adding that the allowances would be given out tomorrow (Aug 10).

She expressed that it was the wish of the state government to have its own sports school similar to Sekolah Sukan Bukit Jalil.

“The sports school at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Tabuan Jaya is not really a sports school.

“It has always been our dream to have full sports school like what we have in Bukit Jalil to provide our younger generation the ability to concentrate and be given opportunities for training and exposure to systematic programmes to move them further in sports and become champions, locally and internationally,” she added.

Fatimah also expressed her gratitude to coaches who have been putting great efforts to train and enhance the athletes’ potential.

“The state government had also agreed to give incentives to coaches if their athletes receive medals in appreciation of their effort in developing and bringing out the potential of the athletes to their maximum level,” she added.

At the time of writing, Sarawak is leading in the games with a total of 51 golds, 41 silvers and 50 bronzes, while its closest contender Johor has won 24 golds, 14 silvers and 13 bronzes.

“We successfully claimed a total of 66 golds during the 2014 edition of the games in Perlis and looking at this year’s games, I believe that we can do better that that.

“Although we might have put a target of 80 golds for this year’s edition, it will be considered very good if we can achieve more than 80 per cent of the target,” Fatimah added.

Fatimah hoped that the home team will eventually reign supreme as the overall champion by the time the closing ceremony is held at 7.30pm tomorrow (Aug 10). Minister of Youth and Sports Khairy Jamaluddin will be gracing the ceremony.