Sukma XXI: Sabah sepak takraw team achieves historic five gold medals

BINTULU (Aug 24): The Sabah state sepak takraw team achieved their desired target by winning five gold medals in both the women’s and men’s events at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) XXI Sarawak 2024, which took place from Aug 14 and concluded yesterday at the Stadium Muhibah in Bintulu.

The five gold medals were won in the women’s team, doubles, quadrant, and regu events, as well as the men’s doubles event.

President of the Sabah State Sepak Takraw Association, Roslie Ibrahim, expressed his gratitude, stating that this was an outstanding achievement for the Sabah sepak takraw association, continuing their excellence from previous Sukma editions.

“The Sabah team has met their target and swept all four gold medals in the women’s categories offered in the final event today (yesterday),” he said when met by the media after the medal presentation ceremony.

Roslie mentioned that it was an unexpected surprise when the men’s doubles team also managed to contribute a gold medal for Sabah.

“This is a very proud achievement for us in Sabah, as our previous best performance in men’s sepak takraw only reached the quarter-finals,” he added.

He noted that winning a gold medal in the men’s category this year exceeded their target, which was simply to win any medal.

“However, we did not expect to bring home a gold medal in the men’s category,” he said.

He thanked the Sabah sepak takraw team management, coaches, and especially the players who played excellently to create history, making this a very special memory at Sukma Sarawak.

“God willing, our association will work on the rewards, and the state government has also promised to provide incentives to the players,” he said.

In the women’s regu final for the gold medal, Sabah triumphed over Selangor 2-0 (15-8, 15-6). Selangor took the silver medal, while Perak won the bronze in the third-place match.

The gold medal presentation for the Sabah women’s regu team, the silver for Selangor, and the bronze for Perak was officiated by the Officer of the Youth and Sports Ministry of Semporna District, Sabah, Marasun Hasim, and the Vice President IV of the Malaysian Sepak Takraw Association (PSM), Wan Mohd Husni Abdullah.