File photo of Assistant Minister of Welfare, Women and Family Development Robert Lawson (third, right) presenting the state flag to state paralympiad Yusuf Dewa (on wheelchair) who received it on behalf of the Sarawak contingent leaving for the national paralympic games in Kuantan in 2012.
KUCHING: The state paralympic athletes are aiming to secure an unprecedented 11th national title in a row.
Sarawak have been overall champions of the biennial Malaysia Paralympic Games for a record 10 times to date.
This year, the state contingent will again defend the title they last won in Kuantan two years ago.
The contingent are jointly managed by the Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKM) and the Sarawak Youth and Sports Department (JBS).
JBS director Abdul Haris Ishak told The Borneo Post last week that the athletes will start their centralised training from Aug 12 at the JBS complex here at Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce.
He revealed that Sarawak will compete in swimming, athletics, weightlifting, badminton, lawn bowls and table tennis at this year’s games.
There are high hopes that the state will do well particularly in athletics and swimming this year.
Sarawak, however, will not compete in wheelchair basketball and tennis.
This year’s Malaysia Paralympic Games will be hosted by Perlis. The date of the games have not been confirmed.