Sarawak golfer Mirabel Ting ends Sukma XXI campaign on high note after clinching gold medal

KUCHING (Aug 18): Sarawak’s amateur golfer Mirabel Ting Ern Hui ended her Malaysia Games (Sukma) XXI campaign on a high note after winning the gold medal in the women’s individual event at Kelab Golf Sarawak (KGS) in Petra Jaya here today.

The 19-year-old, who hails from Miri, shot a two-under par 70 on the third round today for a three-day total of 10-under par 206 to finish ahead of Wang Xin Yao of Perak (216) and Ng Jing Xuen of Federal Territories (218).

Currently ranked 17th in the world women’s amateur rankings and having won the women’s individual silver in the Perak Sukma in 2018, Mirabel collected another medal (bronze) in the women’s team event with Abigail Kedung and Sharifah Aiysyah with 688 strokes.

The gold was won by Perak’s Wang Xin Yao, Nur Diana Syafiqah, Siti Nur Hasna and Nurul Adaiyah who scored 676 strokes while the silver medalists were Selangor’s Foong Zi Yu, Kaathiyani, Batista Balqis and Aaarthi Ganesan whose score was 45 strokes.

Sarawak and Selangor were tied for 688 strokes but Sarawak, who had only fielded three players, were awarded the bronze after Selangor won on count back (OCB).

“I actually played pretty decently this week. I made a few mistakes but recovered it well as well. This is my second Sukma outing – the first was in 2018 in Perak where l won silver in the women’s individual.

“It has been amazing playing on home ground, with the people l know and having our home crowd supporting me as well,” said Mirabel.

To her, the main difference competing in this Sukma was winning a gold and a silver.

She will be heading back to the United States on Aug 20 to continue her studies and playing for her college.

The women’s individual medalists received their prizes from Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who was accompanied by State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, who is also KGS president, and Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan.

Also present was Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, who is Sukma XXI Sarawak Contingent assistant chef de mission for golf.

Meanwhile, Anson Yeo Boon Xiang ensured Sarawak a clean sweep in the individual events when he returned a six-under par 210 to clinch the gold medal.

Finishing three strokes behind Anson in second place was M Ajmal Amin of Selangor while Perak’s Andrew Yao bagged the bronze on 217 strokes.

Anson Yeo, Joshua Lim, Wesley Chai and Cayden Kong won the silver in the men’s team event after carding a total of 666 strokes.

Selangor’s Austin Gan, Ajmal Amin, Poon Jia Hao and Ezekiel Ria Hafi won the gold with 659 strokes while Perak’s Andrew Yap, Lim Hao Yu, M Rafiq Nadzmi and Aiden Tai settled for the bronze on 669 strokes.

A beaming team coach Lim Yong Seng was delighted with the Sarawak team’s performance, saying they had done very well to surpass the medal target.

“We won one gold and one silver (women’s team) at the last Sukma in Kuala Lumpur but we won two golds, one silver and one bronze today. Our target was two golds and one silver this Sukma.

“Congrats to the team who have played very well over three days of competition. They were very motivated and they all delivered,” he told The Borneo Post.

“On behalf of the Sarawak golf team, l would like to thank our ACDM (Miro Simuh), Sarawak Sports Corporation sports development officer Hafiza Hanafi, team coaches and officials, sponsors and all those who had contributed in one way or another to our success,” he added.