Sarawak will focus more on the development of martial arts sports to achieve better results in the next Sukma in Pahang next year and Sukma XVI in Kuala Lumpur in 2013.
WE DID IT: Lee (fifth right) and deputy chef de mission Soedirman Aini (fourth right) with the table tennis team at the Sports Arena, Wisma OCM yesterday.
This is because such sports offer a bulk of the medals at the games that was competed once in every two years and now being turned into an annual affair.
“Those sports include wushu, judo, silat, taekwondo, karate and even silambam, an Indian martial arts,” said Sarawak chef de mission Datuk Lee Kim Shin.
According to Lee, the competition scenario has changed with some states now putting more attention and efforts in the sports that offer the most medals.
“For example, Terengganu have put a lot of efforts in developing canoeing and their paddlers have dominated the event in the past two Sukma and Sukma XIV,” he told reporters after watching the women’s singles table tennis final at Sports Arena, Wisma OCM yesterday.
“Previously, we were quite balanced in most sports but the other states like Terengganu, Johor and Selangor have caught up very fast. That’s why we need to develop martial arts sports,” he added.
Lee, also the Assistant Sports Minister, said while focus would be put on the above mentioned sports, other sports which were team events and offering one gold would not be neglected.
Asked on Sarawak’s mediocre performance at this Sukma, Lee said it was already expected and no medals target was set for the state contingent at this Sukma.
The state athletes ended their challenge with a total medal haul of two gold, four silver and eight bronze medals from 12 events competed namely table tennis, judo, canoeing, futsal, beach volleyball, cycling, basketball, handball, cricket, kabbadi, softball and rugby.
“Since from the very beginning, we are not placing too high expectations for our contingent to excel in this Sukma and our main objective is to expose our athletes in many of the new sports events that are competed in Kuala Lumpur Sukma,” said Lee.
However, he was pleased with the state athletes’ performance and glad to note that they have displayed a very high spirit of sportsmanship and fought until the very end.
“I believe they have done their very best and I would like to thank all coaches, team managers, officials and athletes for their contribution,” said Lee.