Fly high: Sarawak women’s volleyball team spikes way to gold in Sukma 2024, ends 11-year drought

The Sarawak women’s volleyball team at Sukma 2024.

By William Isau

SIBU, Aug 23: Sarawak captured the gold medal in the women’s indoor volleyball event after beating Selangor and ending the 11-year gold medal drought at the 21st Malaysian Games (Sukma 2024) today.

The gold medal match, which took place at the Rejang Park Indoor Volleyball stadium, saw Sarawak win three of the four sets to secure the gold.

Right from the start of the match, both teams fought tooth and nail to control the game.

With Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng leading the home crowd, the Sarawak team did not let the crowd down.

After Sarawak took the first two sets (25-15 and 35-16), defending champion Selangor came back strongly in the third set with a score of 21-25.

However, Sarawak players stayed calm and finally took home the fourth and final set with a 25-18 win.

The Sarawak vs Selangor gold medal match in the women’s indoor volleyball event during Sukma 2024 held at the Rejang Park Indoor Volleyball in Sibu on Aug 23, 2024.

A jubilant Sanong Kulchin, who is the coach for the Sarawak team, said the win saw the State team break the 11-year gold medal drought in the event.

“Our win today was due to three months of intensive training. Our target was to win the gold, and today, we have achieved it,” said Sanong, an experienced coach from Thailand.

Team captain Moh Sheau Jun expressed her pride and gratitude for the fans who stood by them from the very beginning.

“Whenever we compete in other states, we rarely have many supporters. But this time, competing in Sibu, we were thrilled to have such strong support, and it helped us claim the championship,” she said.

Moh also thanked the coaches and her teammates for their efforts in achieving this significant victory.

Assistant coach Angela Tan reflected on the team’s journey, noting that the last time Sarawak won gold in the women’s indoor volleyball category was back in 2013 when she was a player on the team.

“We could have won in straight sets, but in the third set, I think our excitement got the better of us, and Selangor took advantage (of us). Fortunately, we regained our focus, won the fourth set, and ultimately secured the gold for Sarawak,” she said.

A day earlier, the Sarawak men’s team secured a bronze medal after beating Johor 3-0. — DayakDaily