KUCHING: Six months of intense training in Vietnam paid off for the Sarawak taekwondo squad after both men and women teams clinched gold medals in the team poomsae event on Friday (August 16).
The first gold was won by the women’s trio, consisting of Farah Nabilla, Siti Yusriyyah, and Willemien Lai Lini, who scored a total of 7.70 points.
They bettered the Johor contingent represented by Lau You Ling, Lim Xin Zi, and Yong Si Ting who had to settle for second place with 7.54 points, followed by Penang in third place with 7.29 points.
The men’s trio of Fedealis Kom, Mohd Issharil, and Randy Owen Augustine Linggi, scored a total of 8.02 points, winning Sarawak its second gold in taekwondo.
Farah said the training that the team undergone in Vietnam contributed to their success in the tournament.
“The routine there (in Vietnam) was very packed where we trained all day. It was tough and we had to overcome challenges both mentally and physically. Now it has paid off,” she told reporters on Friday.
She added that the experience of training with more experienced athletes in Vietnam helped boost their confidence when performing on stage.
For Siti, winning gold was a way to repay the trust given to the coaching staff, as well as the unwavering support from her parents and supporters.
“I want to thank Sarawak Taekwondo Association president Azizul Annuar Adenan, the coaches, as well as my parents and supporters. This is the reward for all our sacrifices. I am glad our hard work has resulted in gold,” she said.
Meanwhile, Willemien was pleased with taekwondo returning to the SUKMA stage after a two-year hiatus.
“This SUKMA was our first stage, and hopefully, we can compete at higher levels, such as internationally”.
