Sarawak to finalise shuttlers for Sukma by June

KUCHING (March 15): Sarawak’s badminton squad for the 22nd Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor this August is expected to be finalised by June as preparations continue to intensify for the biennial games.

Sarawak Sukma XXII badminton team manager Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad said the current long list of players will be trimmed down before the team enters a centralised training programme.

“We have a long list of players now and we plan to finalise the shortlist by June. Once that is done, we will immediately begin centralised training for the Sukma squad,” he said in an interview.

The final squad will comprise eight boys and eight girls. Among those currently in the long list are three who are part of the national junior team — Ishraf Hafizin, Alwyn Chua and Jared Foo — who are gaining valuable experience on the international circuit.

“They are actively participating in international junior tournaments. They recently returned from competitions in Germany and the Netherlands and will continue competing in more tournaments in Europe and Asia,” said Wan Khalik who is also the Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) secretary.

The association is planning an overseas training stint in Jakarta, Indonesia, likely in July, at one of the top badminton clubs there.

The badminton competition at Sukma will feature singles, doubles, mixed doubles and team events for both boys and girls.

SBA has yet to set a medal target for the upcoming Sukma. Sarawak faces a tough challenge to replicate its previous success, particularly after reigning Sukma women’s singles champion Wong Ling Ching from Miri is over the age limit.

“It will be quite challenging for us to retain the gold medal because Ling Ching is now overaged. But we are hopeful that the team can still achieve podium finishes,” Wan Khalik said while conceding that Sarawak’s junior players are still developing, especially when compared with opponents from states who have older and more experienced under-21 players.

SBA is also focusing on long-term development under its ‘SMASH 2030’ roadmap, which aims to produce national champions within the next three to five years.

“For the next two years, our focus is on developing younger age groups such as under-12 and under-14 players. The goal is that within three to five years we can produce top champions for Sarawak and the country,” its secretary explained.

He also highlighted that grooming elite players requires significant resources.

“We need time and we also need funding because training and international exposure are very costly now,” he said.