Sabah to defend Para Sukma overall champions title

KOTA KINABALU (Sept 9): Sabah will go all out to defend the overall champions title in the 21st Para Sukma in Sarawak from September 22-28.

Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Angin said Sabah will send a strong contingent of 140 athletes in an effort to retain the title they won for the first time ever in Kuala Lumpur two years ago.

Sabah Para Sukma contingent, who bagged 54 golds, 36 silvers and 35 bronzes for the historic achievement in 2022, however have not been set any gold target this time.

“We have not set any medal target in Para Sukma 2024 but our mission is very clear.

“Sabah will go all out to defend the overall champions title … that’s the main aim,” Ellron told reporters on Monday.

He was met after the handing over of the State flag to the Sabah Para contingent chef-de-mission Datuk Mansur Asun in Putatan.

According to him, Sabah will take part in all 10 sports contested in Sarawak, including Boccia which is making its debut in the national multi-sport event.

The others are tenpin bowling, table tennis, swimming, powerlifting, lawn bowls, chess, badminton, archery and athletics.

“Two years ago we sent 109 athletes and became overall champions.

“In the upcoming Para Sukma, the state contingent will comprise 140 athletes and will also compete in the newly included sport that is Boccia.

“I believe with a larger contingent, we have high hope to repeat the achievement. It is the hope of all Sabahans.

“We returned as overall title two years ago, there’s no reason why we cannot become the overall champions again,” said Ellron, adding 69 officials will be accompanying the athletes in Sarawak.

Ellron went on to say that the state Para contingent have been training continuously in the past two years in their preparation for the title defence.

“I believe other contingents too have been making preparations and we may not know their true strength.

“So the most important thing is that we give our utmost best to become champions again,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ellron said the gold winners for individual event in Para Sukma stand to win RM10,000, the same amount the able-bodied athletes received in Sukma.

The incentive for silver and bronzes (individual) as well as for team events will only be announced later.

In 2022, Sabah stunned 13-time champions Sarawak to lift the overall title for first time since the multi-sport event started in 1982.

Sarawak had to settle for second best then with 50 golds, 47 silvers and 49 bronzes followed by Johor with 38 golds, 30 silvers and 25 bronzes.