Silambam team make strong comeback

KUCHING: Sarawak’s silambam team is making a strong comeback after facing challenges earlier in the day of the silambam competition at the ongoing 21st Malaysia Game (SUKMA).

The team secured spots in the finals for two events: the men’s poruthal below 55kg and the women’s poruthal above 70kg.

Asyraff Aqil

In the men’s poruthal below 55kg semifinal, Sarawak’s Asyraff Aqil Mohamad Zainurrin Azm scored 38 points, edging out Perak’s Thangeswaran Vijayan who scored 33 points.

He will be facing his opponent from Selangor in the finals today (Aug 22).

Hani Qurratu’ain

Meanwhile, in the women’s poruthal above 70kg event, Hani Qurratu’ain Samsudin triumphed over Selangor’s Lasya Priya Parthiban with a score of 21 to 20.

Hani also won her semifinal match against her Perak opponent and will meet her Penang rival in the finals today (Aug 22).

In the women’s poruthal 60-70kg event, Nur Aleesya Zahierah Sali advanced to the semifinals but narrowly missed a spot in the finals, scoring 28 points to Penang’s Shaneetha Baskaran’s 30 points.

Nur Aleesya

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

The team will also compete in the synchronised bare hand and synchronised weapon event today (Aug 22).

Competition for the silambam which is taking place at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre starts on Tuesday and will run until Aug 22.