Sukma XXI: Six months hard work pays off as S’wak taekwondo trio bag gold in team event

KUCHING (Aug 17): Six months of hard work have paid off when Sarawak’s taekwondo trio scored the highest average in the final of the mixed freestyle open team event in the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma) to claim the gold medals today.

Taking place at Sarawak indoor stadium, the trio comprising Chin Ken Haw, Randy Owen Augustine Linggi and Fedealis Kom Twin achieved a high score of 7.13, earning the loudest cheers from the crowd in the stadium with their acrobatic moves.

Speaking to reporters after the medal presentation ceremony, Chin credited their success at the finals today to their local and South Korean coaches, as well as support from the Sarawak Taekwondo Association and Sarawak Sports Council.

“I think our performance today was good and we have worked hard for this. We practiced many months for this exact moment to happen and I am happy that I did,” he said.

For Owen, the 19-year-old planned to use the prize money as announced by the Sarawak government for Sukma medallists to pursue his tertiary education in sports science and paying for other expenses.

He also aspired to represent Malaysia one day and win medals in the biennial Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, while Sarawakians could still witness the youngster to participate in the next Sukma competitions.

Meanwhile, Fedealis expressed his satisfaction that his team stood on the podium together today to receive the much-coveted gold medals.

“I am happy with our performance today. We have been training for six months every day for this Sukma and now we can finally receive the medals together,” he said.

Among those in present at the medal presentation ceremony were Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development deputy ministers Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu and Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat; Sarawak Taekwondo Association president Azizul Annuar Adenan; patron Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu; state technical board chairman Master Tan Check Joon; team manager Reza Rizvy; and Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Awang Putrayusrie Awang Redzuan.