‘Bright future for Sarawak taekwondo’

KUCHING (Sept 30): Sarawak’s performance in the taekwondo event at the recently-concluded Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2024 signified the state contingent’s best ever achievement in the national competition, earning praise personally from Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Sarawak recorded an unprecedented haul of 11 gold, four silver and four bronze medals in the taekwondo events, which went on for five days from Aug 16.

Perlis placed second with five gold, three silver and four bronze medals.

In past editions of Sukma, Sarawak won eight gold in 2016, and four gold in 2018, while the sports was not contested in the 2022 Games.

The 11 gold medals clinched, seven from the poomsae events and four from in the duel events, had given Sarawak an early lead in the overall gold medals tally of Sukma 2024.

It was undeniable that the success of the state’s taekwondo squad had played a key role in Sarawak being crowned the overall champion of Sukma 2024 in the final day.

According to Sarawak taekwondo team manager Reza Rizvy, the unprecedented feat by his charges in this 21st edition would set a high standard for the next Sukma in 2026, and their dominant display had actually exceeded the original seven-gold target.

He credited the success to the devoted athletes, local and foreign coaches including Master Taweesilp Khamnuan who had been instrumental to their success, the management, Sarawak Sports Council (SSC) and the Sarawak Taekwondo Association.

“This is the efforts of the whole team. Our coaches have been with us for a number of years and some of the athletes have trained with us since young. It has been consistent trainings for the past few years,” Reza told The Borneo Post.

Rising stars

Sukma 2024 had also highlighted young Sarawakian athletes making their debut in competing against the top exponents from other states, offering a promising future for the state’s taekwondo team.

Among the fresh exponents are 18-year-old Joseph Wong and 16-year-old Eileen Li, who clinched a silver and a bronze medal, respectively, in the duel final of the 68kg category and in the semi-final of the 57kg category, respectively.

Despite being disappointed over not winning the gold medal, Joseph voiced his satisfaction of his overall performance in his first Sukma, believing that his loss in the final could be attributed to both the height and defence factors.

“I came very close to winning. I have trained for such a long time but unfortunately, I was not named the champion. Nonetheless, I want to thank my coaches who have been training me hard and moreover, I want to credit my performance in the final to my father, my first taekwondo coach,” said the youth.

Eileen, who studied at SMK Jalan Arang in Kuching, said it was an unforgettable experience representing Sarawak in Sukma, and she expressed her gratitude to the coaches for placing their faith in her to be a part of the state contingent.

Another debutant, Maple Law Tsi Eun, had to contest her duel final of the 53kg category close to midnight to secure a silver medal, against an exponent from Perlis.

Her family, including her grandparents, had travelled all the way from Sibu to support her during that encounter at the Sarawak Indoor Stadium in Kuching.

“I would like to dedicate this medal to my parents because without them, I would not be standing here today. To be honest, I did not even expect myself to be bringing home any medal,” said the 18-year-old.

‘Win or lose, it is subjective’

Adding on, Reza said he never stopped encouraging all the competing taekwondo athletes from Sarawak, knowing that the most important aspect of being an athlete was to give everything when competing in the ring, regardless of the outcome.

“You have to remember that this is a competition, and there will those winning and those losing – you have to accept that. In terms of performance, the athletes have given their best and this is the most important.

“Win or lose, it is subjective, but the most important is that you give your best.”

In this regard, Reza had also listed AJ Ong Yang Yi and Mohamad Zulhafiz Zulhadi, both age 17, as ‘the most promising taekwondo fighters for Sarawak’, following their golden performance in their respective weight categories.

The Sarawak taekwondo gold medallists for the poomsae events are Farah Nabilla Maddarus, Siti Yusriyyah Zailani and Willemien Lai Lini (women’s recognised team); Fedealis Kom Twin, Mohd Isshahril Mazlan and Randy Owen Augustine Linggi (men’s recognised team); Randy Owen (men’s recognised individual); Farah Nabilla and Fedealis (mixed freestyle mix pairs); Chin Ken Haw (men’s freestyle individual); Zara Nur Zafirah Mohd Yusof (women’s freestyle individual); Fedealis, Ken Haw and Randy Owen (mixed freestyle open team).

For the duels event, the gold medallists are AJ Ong Yang Yi in the men’s 87kg category, Puteri Durratun Zulaikha Samat in the women’s 73kg category, Mohamad Zulhafiz Zulhadi in the men’s over 87kg category, and Pretty Amisha Amanda Francesca in the Over-73kg category.

The silver medallists are Randy Owen and Seah Jing Ying in the mixed recognised mix pair poomsae event, Joseph in the men’s 68kg duel category, Christine Li Ying Zhen in the women’s 67kg duel category, and Maple in the women’s 53kg duel category.

The bronze medallists are Willemien in the women’s recognised individual poomsae event, Eileen in the women’s 57kg duel category, Chai Soon Hian in the men’s 80kg duel category, and Allexandre Axcell Juntan in the 63kg duel category.