Sarawak diving team celebrates their historic achievement at Sukma XXI

KUCHING (Aug 26): The Sarawak diving team celebrated their remarkable success at the recently concluded 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI) with a dinner hosted by team manager Ikeram Yan and his wife, Masmanis Yusof, yesterday.

The event was attended by head coach Shi Yang, development coach Yin Yi Tian, senior coach Rosatimah Muhammad, and assistant coaches, former Olympians Nur Hazzarina Jimie and Traisy Vivien Tukiet.

In a dominant display at Sukma XXI, Sarawak’s divers clinched the top spot with an extraordinary haul of nine gold, three silver, and two bronze medals, far outpacing their competitors. The Federal Territories finished in second place with three golds, four silvers, and four bronzes, while Terengganu rounded out the top three with two silvers and three bronzes.

Reflecting on the team’s performance, Shi said: “The divers have exceeded all expectations, not only meeting but surpassing our target of two gold medals with a stunning total of nine. This achievement is historic, and I believe it will stand as a record for years to come.”

Sarawak’s previous best was eight golds in the 2018 Sukma, making this year’s performance truly unprecedented. Shi, who has been with the team since 2019, added: “I am very proud to be part of this team.”

In the 2022 Sukma held at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil, Sarawak’s divers led with two golds, three silvers, and one bronze. Sabah and the Federal Territories followed, with Sabah securing two golds and two bronzes, and the Federal Territories earning one gold, two silvers, and two bronzes.

As Sukma XXI concludes, Shi and Yin are preparing to return to China for a well-deserved two-week break to visit their families. “We haven’t been home for four years since Covid-19 began. Our parents miss us dearly, and so do we,” Shi shared.

Sarawak’s golden journey at Sukma XXI was marked by a series of spectacular performances, showcasing both collective effort and individual brilliance.

Among the standout athletes was 15-year-old Nur Farisya Alia Affendi, who emerged as the queen of the diving events with three gold medals. Nur Farisya, who joined the national backup squad in March, made headlines by defeating 2023 Phnom Penh SEA Games gold medallist Lee Yiat Qing of the Federal Territories in the 10m platform final. She also claimed gold in the women’s synchronised 10m platform with Nur Eilisha Rania Abrar Raj and in the mixed synchronised 10m platform with Muhammad Lutfir Rahman Mohammad Razak.

Another key contributor to Sarawak’s success was 17-year-old Dayang Nursharzyra Awang Nasaruddin, a diver poised to become Malaysia’s next springboard queen. Dayang secured gold in the mixed synchronised 3m springboard with her elder brother, Awang Sharzan Nasrin Awang Nasaruddin, the women’s synchronised 3m springboard with Nur Eilisha Rania, and the women’s 1m springboard. She capped off her campaign with a silver in the individual 3m springboard, solidifying her potential on the national stage.

In the men’s competition, 18-year-old Elvis Priestley Clement made his mark with two golds and a silver. A member of the national backup squad, Elvis took gold in the 3m springboard and teamed up with Enrique Maccartney Harold to win the men’s synchronised 10m platform. However, a misstep in his third dive during the individual 10m platform event cost him a third gold.

For Enrique, this Sukma was particularly special. In his final appearance at the Games, the seasoned diver finally secured his first individual gold medal in the 10m platform event, scoring an impressive 409.10 points. After four attempts at Sukma, Enrique now looks ahead to international competitions, with the Malaysia Open firmly in his sights.

Meanwhile, the journey continues for Sarawak’s divers. A total of 11 athletes will compete in the Majlis Sukan Sekolah-Sekolah Malaysia (MSSM) Diving Championships in Bukit Jalil from Sept 13th to 20th, aiming to continue their winning streak.