By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, July 4: Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah expressed dissatisfaction over the gold medal forecast for the Sarawak contingent in the 2022 Sukma Games.
Abdul Karim said at the moment, the forecast target for the Sarawak contingent is 40 gold medals.
“We are not happy with that kind of target because we want to become the champion,” he told reporters during a press conference held at Stadium Negeri Sarawak today.
When asked by reporters on the total target of gold medals for Sarawak for Sukma 2022, Abdul Karim said the exact figure will be decided when handing over the Sarawak flag to the contingent before their departure to the event.
Abdul Karim pointed out that he also expects all sports bodies from Sarawak sending athletes to the 2022 Suka Games to deliver.
He said for the next 70 days, all the athletes will be trained to turn them into champions.
“That is why we have been telling the athletes, coaches, and sports association presidents that I want to see our athletes possess that ‘killer instinct’; to be able to look at things from a different perspective.
“I am very sure if we try our best, we will be able to turn them into giant killers,” he added.
Meanwhile, commenting on the 12 events dropped in the 2022 Sukma Games, Abdul Karim said although it affects Sarawak’s athletes, they have to seek to strive to win medals in other events.
“I wont cry over this sort of thing. But, when the decision is made, we have to accept it,” he said.
The 12 events that are being dropped are the Women’s Diving (1m springboard, 3m springboard, platform, 3m synchronised springboard, and synchronised platform), Women’s Karate (teams), Women’s 10km Racewalk, Weight Lifting (76kg), Women’s Judo (Nage-No-Kata), Men’s Canoe (polo 5 on 5), Women’s Canoe (polo 5 on 5), and Men’s Boxing (92kg and above). — DayakDaily
