Medal chase for 8 events in Sukma today

KUCHING (Aug 14): Stakes and expectations are high as 15 teams including neighbouring Brunei embark on their medal chase in the 21st Sukma with wushu and cycling offering the first medals of the games today.

At Sarawak Wushu Training and Competition Centre in Petra Jaya here, six gold medals are up for grabs in the men’s nanquan, women’s nanquan, women’s taijijian, women’s changquan, men’s changquan and men’s tajijian.

Sarawak wushu exponents such as national athlete Mok Xiao Yuan in men’s taijijian and Sukma XX silver medalist Stephanie Ngu Chai Ern in women’s changquan will be in action. They will share the spotlight with several national exponents representing states such as Melaka, Negri Sembilan and Pulau Pinang.

Sarawak has set a target of winning seven gold medals in both the taolu routines and sanda (free sparring) events.

In sanda with eight golds on offer eventually, Sarawak’s eight athletes have the fortune of advancing to the quarter-finals after  favourable draws held during the team manager’s meeting yesterday. A win in the last eight will quarantee a bronze medal.

At Politeknik Kuching in Matang, one gold each is offered in the men’s time trial and women’s time trial today.

Meanwhile, some assistants chef de mission (ACDM), when approached yesterday, expressed optimism that Sarawak can win the targeted 70 gold medals to wrest the overall title.

“We hope that we can achieve our seven-gold target in wushu and I believe that Sarawak can finish on top in this Sukma with 65 to 70 golds,” said ACDM for wushu Allen Wong Siew Poh who is Wushu Federation of Sarawak president.

ACDM for tenpin bowling Sunny Si Poh Heng regarded the 70-gold target as a reasonable forecast for Sarawak to gun for the overall title which has remained elusive for 30 years.

“It is based on the input from all sports bodies and I believe we know our game, strengths and standards.

“Foremost, we target to be overall champion in tenpin bowling and, hopefully, we do and ought to achieve our three-gold target and even surpass it,” said Si who heads the Amateur Tenpin Bowling Association of Sarawak.