Ambitious esports goals for SUKMA XXI

KUCHING: The Sarawak Esports Association (Sesa) has outlined ambitious goals to showcase the prowess of its athletes on the national stage for the upcoming Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in August.

Sesa president Afiq Fadhli Narawi said the association aims to secure a minimum of three gold medals and achieve several podium finishes across various esports categories.

“We aim to showcase the talent and dedication of our athletes.

“We have set specific milestones such as achieving a certain number of podium finishes, improving our team’s synergy and strategies and ensuring each player demonstrates progress compared to previous competitions,” he said on Thursday.

He hoped that the esports athletes will inspire others in Sarawak to pursue their interest in esports and help elevate the standard and recognition of esports within the region.

He added that preparations for SUKMA are well underway, with athletes undergoing intensive training regimes encompassing technical skills, strategic gameplay and mental conditioning. 

“Additionally, we’ve scheduled a series of scrimmages and practice matches with other teams outside Malaysia to fine-tune our strategies.

“They’ve participated in a number of tournaments locally and also in West Malaysia throughout the months of preparation for SUKMA.”

Elaborating further, he said the athletes engaged in rigorous training sessions covering technical skills, strategic gameplay, team-building exercises, and psychological sessions to strengthen cohesion and communication.

Afiq stressed the importance of mental preparation, highlighting the inclusion of stress management, focus enhancement, and visualisation techniques provided by specialists from Sarawak Sports Corporation, alongside physical readiness.

“Physically, our athletes follow a structured routine that includes regular exercise by our certified head coach, proper nutrition, and sufficient rest to ensure they are in peak condition.

“Additionally, I hope that if we can win gold medals in esports, the Sarawak government can materialise our dream of having our very own Esports Hub.

“This facility would cater to high-standard or international esports events, aligning with the vision to make Sarawak a sports powerhouse. With such an infrastructure, we could even aim to host the next esports tournament for SEA Games 2027.”

For the record, the esports event will be held from Aug 20 to 24 at Swinburne University, Kuching.  Additionally, Mobile Legends Bang-Bang (MLBB), PUBG Mobile, PS5 E-Football 2024, PS5 Tekken 8 and Racing Stimulator will be contested.