Silambam: Sarawak face early exits 

KUCHING: Sarawak encountered a series of challenges on the second day of the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA) silambam competition today, failing to advance to the quarterfinals or semifinals in several events.

In the morning, during the first round of the women’s poruthal 50-60kg event, Andrea Clara Govinda scored 26 points against Sabah’s Melyros Flozieeqa Malor, who tallied 22 points.

However, in the second round, Andrea fell short with 20 points, losing to Selangor’s Ishwaria Devi Pamanathan, who scored 26 points, thereby missing out on the semifinals.

In the men’s poruthal 65-75kg event, Mohamad Afiq Abdul Rahman faced Penang’s Githan Kathiresan in the second round but was defeated, scoring only six points against Githan’s 22.

The loss ended his hopes of advancing to the semifinals.

And in the men’s poruthal 55-65kg event, Sarawak’s Abang Arifnasrullah Abg Hussein was overpowered by Sabah’s Zeqxvaly in the second round, scoring 32 points to Zeqxvaly’s 48, which halted his journey to the semifinals.

In the first round of the men’s poruthal over 75kg event, Airil Shazwan Faishall Hisham competed against Selangor’s Matesh Nair Kalidass. Airil scored 11 points, while Matesh secured 17, leaving Airil unable to move ahead to the quarterfinals.

Later this afternoon, in the men’s poruthal below 55kg event, Asyraff Aqil Mohamad Zainurrin Azm will face Perak’s Thangeswaran Vijayan in the semifinals.

Sarawak’s silambam athletes will continue to compete in other events scheduled for this afternoon.

Yesterday (Aug 20), Siti Balqis Alieya was eliminated in the first round of the women’s poruthal below 50 kg event, preventing her from advancing to the next stage.

The Sarawak silambam team is participating in 14 events, including the men’s and women’s individual thanithiramai silamban stick event, the men’s and women’s individual thanithiramai kuthu varisai event, the men’s individual poruthal below 55kg event, the women’s poruthal below 50kg event, the men’s poruthal 55-65kg event, the women’s poruthal 50-60kg event, the men’s individual poruthal 65-75kg event, the women’s individual poruthal 60-70kg event, the men’s individual poruthal above 75kg event, and the women’s individual poruthal above 70kg event.

Sarawak are also set to compete in the synchronised bare hand and synchronised weapon events.