Sarawak tennis team wins two silver medals at Sukma XXI

KUCHING (Aug 24): Sarawak tennis team concluded their 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI) campaign with two silver medals, one in mixed doubles and the other in women’s doubles.

Despite having the home crowd cheering for them, the Sarawak players did not meet their expectations, outmatched by their more technically skilled and composed opponents, including national representatives.

The first silver medal was secured by women’s doubles pair Soo Hui Yii and Lydia Liong, who lost in the final yesterday morning to Sharifah Elsa Wan Abdul Rahman and Saw Jo Leen of Selangor.

Sharifah Elsa, whose parents are from Sarawak, and Jo Leen rallied from an early deficit before catching up to beat their Sarawak opponents 6-4, 6-4.

Liong also competed in the mixed doubles later in the day, partnering Hii Shieng Wee to face Leong siblings Mitsuki and Shihomi from Perak.

They could only managed silver after losing to the Leong siblings 4-6, 2-6.

The matches were played at SLTA Centre yesterday, having been postponed from Thursday (Aug 22) due to bad weather.

At the previous Sukma in Kuala Lumpur in 2022, Sarawak had won one gold and one silver medal in men’s doubles and mixed doubles.

Perak topped the Sukma 2024 tennis medal tally, securing gold medals (men’s singles and mixed doubles) and three silvers.

Selangor followed with two gold medals (women’s singles and women’s doubles), one silver and three bronze.

Federal Territories also secured two gold medals (mixed team and men’s doubles) and one bronze.

Penang and Terengganu won one bronze medal each.