By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, June 5: Sarawak is taking a significant step forward in para sports development by sending a 13-member delegation to Germany for a 10-day international collaboration and training programme aimed at enhancing its para-athletic capabilities.
The visit, which will take place from June 16 to 25, involves intensive training sessions, participation in a regional para-athletics championship, and knowledge exchanges with top German coaches and sports professionals at the Paralympic Sports Centre in Cottbus, Brandenburg.
The initiative is spearheaded by Sarawak Sports and Recreation Association for Persons with Special Needs (PESRON) with strong backing from the Sarawak Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development (KPWK) and the Sarawak Welfare Department (JKM).
It comes on the heels of Sarawak’s stellar performance at the 21st Para Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2024 in Kuching, where the State emerged overall champion for the 14th time with 82 gold, 53 silver, and 74 bronze medals—33 of the golds coming from the para-athletics team alone.
Sarawak Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah commended the effort, noting the packed itinerary would be highly beneficial for the athletes and coaches.
“They will be receiving briefings and guidance from a top-tier expert (Ralf Paulo), head of Paralympic Sports in Brandenburg, who is responsible for 20 medals in Paralympics Games, training sessions, meetings with psychologists and nutritionists, as well as career talks to help the athletes think about their future beyond sports.
“We pray for their safe journey, fruitful training and competition experience, and for them to gain valuable insights as they witness firsthand the world-class facilities in Germany, which are among the best for para sports. We hope they will benefit greatly from this exposure and, more importantly, return home with enhanced skills and performance,” she said during a press conference held at Baitul Makmur 2 building today.
She revealed that the delegation, led by PESRON Sarawak president Matthew Chin Hiong Choi, includes top-performing Para Sukma gold medallists such as Richard Bada, a dwarfism athlete who clinched a hat-trick of golds in shot put F41, discus F41, and javelin throw F41 at the 2024 Para Sukma Games; Jap Soon Hung, a wheelchair-bound athlete who secured gold medals in three consecutive editions—2018, 2022, and 2024; and Richard Ganie James Sigan, a cerebral palsy athlete and double gold medallist in javelin and discus during the 2022 and 2024 editions.
Also joining are Siti Zubaidah Puini, a visually impaired athlete who won golds in 2022 and 2024; Noshazwani Maisara Marzuki, a cerebral palsy athlete with golds from 2018, 2022, and 2024; and Nur Farhani Kudus, a physically impaired athlete who won golds in 2022 and 2024 and recently claimed bronze in the 400m at the IPC Grand Prix Indian League.
Peter Jaehne, a German national and the European Relations Officer for the trip, played a crucial role in facilitating connections with the German Paralympic community.
Following their return from Germany, the team will proceed to Kuantan, Pahang, to compete in the National Para-Athletics Championship from June 26 to 29. Their performance there will determine eligibility for the upcoming 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand in January 2026.
The delegation also includes coaches, a media officer, chaperone and team manager—all committed to ensuring the athletes gain the most from this unique international opportunity. – DayakDaily
