SUKMA XXI Basic Volunteer Course successfully held

KUCHING: The Basic Volunteer Course for the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA XXI) Sarawak 2024 Kuching Division Series 3 was successfully conducted at Dewan Wisma Wanita here.

According to a post on the SUKMA Sarawak 2024 Facebook page yesterday (July 15), the course was organised in preparation for the smooth running of SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024 in Kuching Division from August 17 to 24.

“Kuching Division will be hosting 25 sports, which will undoubtedly require volunteer support to ensure that SUKMA XXI Sarawak 2024 proceeds smoothly,” it said.

The upcoming SUKMA will see 12,619 athletes and officials participating in 37 sports involving venues in nine divisions, namely, Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri.

Committees in all divisions involved are currently expediting their preparation for the 21st SUKMA, with only 33 days left.

Earlier, Sarawak’s Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, said that Sarawak had set a target of winning at least 70 gold medals.

“This is based on feedback received during a briefing about the performance of the contingent. The assessment report was done sport by sport together with the ACDMs and coaches.

“I believe we (Sarawak) can achieve the target. If we can win 70 gold medals, we may emerge as the overall champion. I hope no other state can surpass that target,” he said as reported by Bernama.

SUKMA, incepted in 1986, was hosted by Sarawak in 1990 and 2016 and the state emerged as overall champion in three consecutive editions – 1990, 1992, and 1994.

The 21st edition of the Games will also be the largest ever, with 488 events; 236 events are for men, 217 events are for women while there are 35 mixed participation events.