KUCHING: Paralympic athletes are busy preparing for the 20th Para Malaysia Games (Sukma) while deaf athletes are busy preparing for the 21st Malaysia Deaf Games (Sopma) in Johor next year, said Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.
“In Paralympics at the national level, Sarawak is the defending champion for the 13th time since winning it in 1994 at Johor.
“The winning mentality is still very much upheld by all athletes and officials and a must-win attitude is already inculcated in them,” she told reporters at a press conference yesterday in Baitulmakmur building here.
“Next year, we are going back to the place where we started our supremacy as national champions and powerhouse of Paralympic sports in Malaysia.
“In addition with lawn bowls, Sarawak is going to participate in 10 sports in the coming Johor Para Sukma which will be held in August next year,” she revealed.
In the 19th Para Sukma in Perak last year, the state sent 178 athletes to participate in athletics, swimming, badminton, boccia, chess, archery, table tennis, powerlifting and tenpin bowling. The state contingent became the overall champion with 61 gold, 62 silver and 40 bronze medals.
On Sopma, Fatimah pointed out that the state came third twice since 2016.
“For Sopma in June next year, the state is going to participate in four sports, namely, athletics, badminton, 10 pin bowling and futsal. Our ambitious target is to be the champion,” she explained.
Fatimah added that the athletes who were training needed to qualify in a tournament planned for them in November.
“Athletes must pass a minimum qualifying standard (MQS) to be selected for the state Paralympic team and state Sopma team to Johor next year.
“Those who fail to make it to the state contingent in November will be given another ultimate chance in early February next year,” said Fatimah.
The minister revealed that the state OKU athletes would be taking in Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. Swimming athlete Mohd Nur Syaiful and powerlifting athlete Bonnie Bunyau Gustin had qualified on merits and were medal prospects.
