By Karen Bong
KUCHING, June 24: Sarawak’s air pistol athlete Stephanie Sim Shu Ming, who passed away suddenly at the young age of 19 due to a stroke, was one of Sarawak’s medal prospects for the upcoming 20th Sukma Games to be held in Kuala Lumpur this year starting Sept 29.
Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah was shocked and deeply saddened by the news of Sim’s passing.
“For a rising athlete to pass away at such a young age, we are very sad because she was our up-and-coming athlete and one of our medal prospects in the upcoming Sukma Games. She had won several medals in the last Sukma Games.
“Myself, along with the entire sporting community, expressed our deepest sympathy and condolences to her family and loved ones,” he told DayakDaily when contacted today.
Abdul Karim is in Sibu for a function today and could not attend Sim’s funeral to pay his last respects to the rising star in the shooting sports.
It was reported that Sim had suffered a stroke on June 16 and went into a coma, and was hospitalised at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH).
Her remains were buried at Nirvana Memorial park in Bau this morning.
Sim was listed for the Women’s 10M Air Pistol individual, team and mixed team, and Women’s 25m Pistol individual and mixed team events for the 20th Sukma.
At Sukma Perak in 2018, Sim won the bronze medals in the Women’s 10m Air Pistol team and Women’s 25m Pistol team events. — DayakDaily
