Selangor contingent arrives with high hopes

KUCHING: The Selangor Para Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2024 contingent has become the first team to arrive here for the 21st edition of the Games, set to begin on Sept 22.

The team landed at Kuching International Airport at 1.45 pm today (Sept 18), and was greeted with a captivating Sarawak cultural dance performance, which boosted the Selangor team’s spirits as they prepare to vie for top honours at the event.

WH2 category wheelchair badminton athlete Rahim Mohd Yusof expressed his confidence in the team’s readiness.

“Our preparations are in excellent shape, thanks to the meticulous arrangements by our coach. We are thrilled to be in Sarawak, and our strategy is well-defined, adhering to the coach’s plans and instructions.

“We have trained extensively as a unit, so we’re well-prepared. As our Menteri Besar stated, our goal is to secure a top-three finish,” he said.

S14 category swimming athlete Muhammad Zhafri Adam also expressed confidence in his and the team’s performance.

“Our training has been rigorous, from morning until evening, with substantial guidance from the coach. My family’s support is a significant source of inspiration.

“I aim to win medals, regardless of their colour, and hope to break the national record. I won four golds at the previous Para SUKMA in 2022 and am determined to repeat that success,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kelvin On Kai Bin, a swimmer in the S6 category, shared his own optimism about his preparations.

“My self-motivation is my main driving force. I’m aiming for gold and am fully prepared to compete,” he said.

Selangor team manager Intan Diana shared that teamwork and mental strength is important in the team.

“We have focused on technical preparations, but this time, we want to ensure the athletes are mentally and emotionally ready. Teamwork is crucial, and we have conducted several joint programmes to strengthen this aspect.

“Our goal is for the Selangor swimmers to achieve their medal targets. The key is for them to give their best performance,” she explained.

Selangor Swimming Association coaches Adilla Azharrudin and Amir Munif said that their training programme has been in place since the start of the year.

“We have introduced many new athletes and developed specific strategies for each state. Our hope is to win gold and emerge as champions in Sarawak,” they said.