Fatimah (centre) in a photo with the Sarawak contingent.
A section of athletes seen during the oath-taking session.
KUCHING: Sarawak aims to emerge champion by targeting to win at least 77 gold medals in the 19th Para Sukma 2018 to be held in Perak from Nov 21 to 28.
Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said Sarawak was the overall champion in the last Para Sukma after bagging 84 gold medals.
“Though 77 gold medals is our goal, we hope to win more than this. We did not achieve what we wanted to achieve in the Sukma 2018, so we want you to achieve the target of Para Sukma 2018,” she said when handing over the state colours to the 178-athlete Sarawak contingent during a ceremony took place at the state Youth and Sports Complex here today.
Fatimah received an overwhelming “Yes!” as she asked the state contingent: “Are you ready to be the champion?”
She added: “So be the champion. And God willing, we will be the champion.”
She said the State Budget had set aside fund for this games with the Sarawak government ready to offer first individual gold medal with RM5,000, and second and subsequent gold medals with RM7,000.
“Team gold is fixed at RM5,000 and will be rewarded to each member of the team. Silver will be rewarded RM750 for individual and team events and RM500 for winning a bronze medal as individual and team,” she added.
Fatimah pointed out: “Sarawak is the powerhouse of sports for PWDs (people with disabilities). We have achieved an excellent run of 12 consecutive championship titles at national-level for Para Sukma Games since 1994 in Johore.”
According to her, it is definitely the mission this year to bring the championship title back to Sarawak again.
“The people of Sarawak are behind you all to do well. There is no reason for you not to achieve the champion goal,” she added.
The state contingent will be competing in nine sports namely athletics, swimming, 10 pin bowling, badminton, ping pong, power lifting, chess, boccia and archery.