By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 28: The Sarawak contingent ended their Para Malaysia Games (Para Sukma) XXI 2024 ten-pin bowling campaign with an impressive haul of seven gold medals.
According to a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) news report, on the final day of the competition, held at Megalanes Sarawak, Batu Kawa, yesterday (Sept 27), Sarawak added another gold in the Trio Ten-pin Bowling Open category, which included the TPB8, TPB9, and TPB10 categories.
The Sarawakian trio consisted of Julaihi Khalik Lamat, Wong Kee Soon, and Marcos Chang Hao Hong.
Melaka’s team, represented by Mohd Amiruddin, Mohd Azrin, and Mohd Mulhim, secured second place, while Selangor’s Ahmad Nazri, Nadia Syafika, and Amin Rashid claimed the bronze.
Sarawak Chef de Mission, Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam, expressed his gratitude for the team’s performance thus far.
By day six of the competition, Sarawak had garnered a total of 82 gold medals, just one medal shy of their target of 83.
“We still have one more event tomorrow (Sept 28), which is lawn bowls, where we are targeting three gold medals in the sport.
“If successful, we will achieve our goal of 83 golds. I urge the people of Sarawak, especially our loyal supporters, to come and cheer for our lawn bowls team tomorrow (Sept 28) at the Sarawak Lawn Bowls Arena,” he said, full of optimism.
Razi also noted that Sarawak currently leads the medal tally, with a 20-gold margin ahead of Sabah, who has collected 62 gold medals so far.
However, he refrained from making any early predictions, leaving the outcome to the final day’s events.
“Let us all hope Sarawak emerges as the overall champion of this year’s Para Sukma,” he added.
Sarawak athlete Julaihi Khalik Lamat, after his victory, dedicated his success to the late Jimmy Siang, a former Sarawak Para Sukma athlete who had a significant influence on his career.
Julaihi acknowledged that Jimmy had paved the way for him in the sport of ten-pin bowling at Para Sukma.
“This is my fourth participation in Para Sukma since 2016, and now, I return to Sarawak once more. However, this will be my last Sukma.
“I recited prayers, calmed my mind, and reminded myself of past victories to help me focus before entering the bowling alley,” he shared emotionally.
Julaihi further expressed that the gold medal he won was dedicated to his late mentor, Jimmy Siang, the person who first introduced him to ten-pin bowling in Para Sukma.
With one more day remaining, all eyes are on Sarawak’s lawn bowls team as they aim to bring home the final golds needed to clinch the overall championship title.
Also in attendance was Sarawak Minister for Women, Childhood, and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK), Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah. — DayakDaily
