Sukma: Sarawak CDM confident of achieving medal target

MIRI (Aug 9): Sarawak’s 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI) contingent chef de mission Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu is confident that the state is able to achieve its 70 gold medal target.

The Sarawak Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development I said the state athletes are ready to put up a fight in the Games which is just a week away, despite anticipating fierce competition from other contingents.

“From the preparation and in terms of their training, I am confident that we will achieve our target,” he told reporters after concluding the final tour of Sukma XXI venue inspections here today.

Sarawak is gunning for at least 70 gold medals in its quest to become Sukma champion for the fourth time.

The Games will be held from August 17 to 24, and the events are spread out in venues in urban centres across the state from Kuching in the south to Miri in the north.

Miri will host the rugby event (Miri Stadium), silat (Miri City Indoor Stadium), softball (SMK Merbau), karate (IKBN Multi-purpose Hall), fencing (Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club) and sailing (Miri Marina jetty).

“These are some of the events that can contribute to our gold medals tally,” he added, while not specifying the sport.

On Sarawak’s readiness in terms of venues and hosting preparations, he said: “We are 99 per cent ready now, and the remaining one percent is a matter of waiting for the Games to start.”

Meanwhile, Rentap called on Mirians to come out in force to watch the events and support their favourite athletes at their respective venues.

On the security aspect, he said a sub-committee of the Resident’s Office had been established to support and monitor the police force, adding that he will meet with all the divisional Residents involved to get feedback from them.

“I also want to ensure safety not only for athletes from Sarawak but also for athletes coming from outside,” he said.

Also present during the venue inspections were Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development II Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat, representatives from the Miri Resident’s office and sports officials.

Among the early birds from outside Sarawak acclimatising to local conditions here were Sukma’s sailing powerhouse Terengganu, which has set up training sessions at the Miri Marina.