SK Telok Gelam athletes prove mettle at zone-level athletics meet in Daro

MUKAH (July 9): SK Telok Gelam staged a very commendable performance at the annual Tanjung Jati Zone Primary School Athletics Championship, which took place at Stadium Mini Daro near here recently.

This primary school in Daro, with a population of only 20 pupils, proved that size was not everything as they pushed themselves hard in facing the competition from eight other schools, which had sent larger contingents.

Such perseverance paid off when SK Telok Gelam clinched both the ‘Best Boy Athlete’ and ‘Best Girl Athlete’ awards through Gary David and Neelofa Tila Tony, respectively.

In overall ranking, SK Telok Gelam was neck-to-neck with SK Semop, with both hauling eight gold medals, but the top team honour went to the latter with the advantage of nine silver and five bronze medals, versus the former’s three silver and two bronze medals.

At third place was SK Bakerkong with a collection of six gold, six silver and three bronze medals.

Daro District Office representative Hamad Baiduri declared the closing ceremony and presented the prizes at the event, which was jointly organised by SK Kampung Kut and SK Mohd Redeh.

The other participating schools were SK Penasu, SK Sabena, SK Serdeng and SK Nanga Semah.

According to the organisers, the objective of this meet was to select athletes to represent the Tanjung Jati Zone at the annual Sarawak Primary School Sports Council (MSSR) Athletics Championship for Daro District, scheduled this July 17 to 18.

“This event signifies the ‘National Education Philosophy’, which is to nurture citizens who are well-developed intellectually, physically and spiritually,” they said in a statement.

In his remarks, SK Telok Gelam senior assistant for co-curriculum Mohd Shariff Abdullah, also the team leader and head coach, said with only a 12-member squad accompanied by six teachers, the school managed to prove its mettle in the sports meet.

“SK Telok Gelam is classified as a low enrolment schools (SKM), but this is not an obstacle for us to excel in anything that we put our mind into, as signified in our motto: ‘SKTG: Stronger and Serious’.

“We prove that we are just as capable as those schools with higher student population and better facilities.

“We are very proud of our young charges, and also my gratitude to all the accompanying teachers for their commitment and dedication.

“Also, special thanks also to (former Igan MP) Dato Sri Abdul Wahab Dollah for his generosity in providing us with a nice accommodation and also training ground at Rangkelsao Homestay in Kuala Matu throughout the competition,” said Mohd Shariff.