Records fall as Sarawak swimmers shine at Para Sukma

KUCHING: Records fell on the second day (Sept 24) of the 2024 Para Malaysia Games (Sukma) as swimmers Mohd Adib Iqbal Abdullah and Rusdianto Rusmadi shattered long-standing para Sukma records, contributing to Sarawak’s growing medal haul.

Mohd Adib, a 25-year-old national elite athlete from Asajaya in Samarahan Division, set a new event record in the men’s 100m breaststroke (SB14) with a time of 1 minute 11.44 seconds.

This surpassed the previous record of 1 minute 16.89 seconds, held by Yoong Chung Wei from Penang, set during the 2018 Para Sukma in Perak.

“I’m happy to contribute a medal for Sarawak. I used to be a fisherman and discovered this sport through a school event, and in 2016, I was selected to represent Malaysia. My strategy for future championships is to focus on my training and ensure I get sufficient recovery,” he said.

The head coach for para swimming, Sarini @ Syarbini Kedri.

Sarini @ Syarbini Kedri, the head coach for para swimming, expressed pride in Adib’s performance.

“Alhamdulillah, I’m grateful and very pleased with his performance. He’s an athlete we had high hopes for. Mohd Adib is actually a national elite athlete based in Kuala Lumpur, so his main training happens there under his KL coach.

“Although he represents Sarawak during competitions, he trains in KL as part of the national team at Kampung Pandan and will continue to do so,” he noted.

Rusdianto Rusmadi, 31, also made headlines by breaking the event record in the men’s 100m backstroke (S7/S8) with a time of 1 minute 18.68 seconds, exceeding his previous record of 1 minute 25.35 seconds, set at the 2004 Sukma in Bukit Jalil.

“I’m thrilled because this time I managed to break my record for the second time. My last record was set in KL during the 2022 Para Games, and now I’ve set a new Sukma record,” he said.

Rusdianto, who ranks eighth in the world, is dedicated to maintaining that position. He shared that his inspiration comes from his late uncle, a former shot put athlete who passed away in 2018.

“For now, I will return to Kuala Lumpur for national-level training. I have a two-year contract there to represent the country.

“This achievement is the result of hard work from the ground up. I’ve represented both my zone and the state, and I participated in last year’s Asean Para Games. Next year, I’ll compete in the Para Asean in Thailand,” he said.

He aims to compete in the Asean Para Games in Thailand in 2026 and continue his national-level training in Kuala Lumpur under a two-year contract.

“I’ve worked my way up, representing my zone, state, and Malaysia. Now, I’m determined to keep breaking records and making progress,” he added.

With these achievements, Sarawak’s para swimming team earned a total of 10 medals today, comprising five gold, two silver and three bronze.

Mohd Adib, 25, set a new event record in the men’s 100m breaststroke (SB14).

Rusdianto Rusmadi, 31, win men’s 100m backstroke (S7/S8).