KUCHING: Sarawak boxing team hold high hopes of winning more medals at the 20th Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Johor from July 11 to 19.
With improved training programme under experienced coaches, the chances of Sarawak boxing squad to surpass their medal collection of one gold and two bronze medals in the last Sukma could be achieved.
Sarawak Boxing Association (Saba) had hired three experienced coaches to train its boxers for the 20th Sukma. They are Muhammad Herman Morni as chief coach, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sapok Biki as technical coach and Wilbur Buag Andogan as assistant coach.
Saba president Datuk Rahman Lariwoo said he was confident that the experienced coaches could help to shape up the state boxers to win more medals in the coming Sukma.
“We want to achieve better results in the coming Sukma and I am confident with our three experienced coach we could achieve it,” added Rahman at Saba’s dinner here on Saturday night.
The coaches had been in the team’s training since nine months ago.
Rahman added that it was interesting to see that there had been improvement in the performance of the boxers since undergoing training under the three coaches.
Sarawak’s sole gold medal in the last Sukma was won by Deoloniel Mcdelon Bong (69kg) while the bronze medal was won by Christyuden Ripoh (69kg) and Wilson Berayin Sumbang (56kg).
Meanwhile, Saba have finalised its list of boxers for the Sukma, including last Sukma’s three medal winners.
The six other boxers are Jackson Chambai Ikeh (49kg), Muhammad Syawal Mohammad Isham (52kg), Mohd Jamani Abdullah (75kg), Rais Arsyad Sulam (81kg) and Hellary Hendry (91kg).
At the dinner Rahman announced the appointment of Hafisz Rachman Drahman as the team manager for Sukma 2020.
