KUCHING, Nov 19 – Sarawak proudly celebrates as 27 top athletes from the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2024 have been chosen for national squad training in a variety of sports disciplines.
Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, announced the exciting news, highlighting the sports involved: swimming, cycling, taekwondo, women’s rugby, squash, cricket, sailing, gymnastics, pétanque, badminton, and golf.
“These talented athletes will undergo intensive training to prepare for prestigious national and international competitions,” Abdul Karim shared during the State Legislative Assembly (DUN).
Sarawak Athletes Heading to World-Class Events
Among the selected are four divers set to represent Malaysia at the World Aquatics Junior Diving Championships in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from November 20 to December 2, 2024. Additionally, five divers will compete at the 46th Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Group Championships in Bangkok, Thailand, from December 5 to 8, 2024.
Three squash players are also heading to the British Open in Birmingham, UK, scheduled from January 2 to 6, 2025.
Abdul Karim expressed that these global platforms offer valuable exposure and experience, sharpening the skills of Sarawak’s elite athletes for future success.
Supporting Champions with Incentives
Acknowledging the hard work of these athletes, the Sarawak government has awarded a whopping RM1.834 million in incentives to those who excelled during Sukma 2024. “This reflects our unwavering commitment to recognising athletic excellence and developing Sarawak as a sporting powerhouse,” Abdul Karim noted.
Looking Forward to Sukma 2026
With Sukma 2026 on the horizon, Sarawak is gearing up to produce even stronger teams. The Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) has retained Elite Athlete status for 26 per cent of current Sukma medallists, providing monthly allowances and top-notch equipment.
In 2025, the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) and MSNS will also organise sports science conferences and introduce talent identification programmes to groom young athletes across the state.