By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 12: Sarawakian para-athletes Bonnie Bunyau, Jong Yee Khie, Mohamad Nur Syaiful, and Abdul Razzap Abdul Rahman will be representing Malaysia at the Paralympic Games in Paris from Aug 28 to Sept 8.
Minister of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah announced that these four athletes would not be eligible to participate in the upcoming Para Sukma 2024, as they are competing at the international level.
“Otherwise, we would secure a few more gold medals,” she said when speaking at a dinner gathering with Para Sukma athletes at Raia Hotel tonight.
Bonnie and Jong will represent Malaysia in powerlifting, Nur Syaiful in swimming and Abdul Razzaq in boccia.
With 100 days remaining until Para Sukma 2024, starting on June 14, Fatimah called on the athletes to give their best effort and aim for gold to reclaim the champion title, which Sarawak lost to Sabah in 2022.
“Sarawak was the Para Sukma champion for 13 consecutive times from 1994 to 2018. However, we only secured second place in Para Sukma 2022,” she said.
In Para Sukma 2022, Sabah emerged as the champion with 54 gold medals, defeating Sarawak, which won 50 gold medals.
Fatimah emphasised that Sarawak is determined to claim the champion title in Para Sukma 2024 for the 14th time and position Sarawak as a powerhouse for athletes with special abilities in Malaysia.
“Remember, Sarawak’s closest contender is Sabah. If we don’t dedicate ourselves to training and the games, we will not become the overall champion, as Sabah is determined to defend the title.
“We cannot let them beat us this time on our home ground. All of you have sacrificed yourselves in training, so go for the gold medal and aim for the championship, nothing less,” she urged.
Fatimah also encouraged athletes to improve their performance in track and field events, which offer the most medals, apart from swimming and tenpin bowling.
She assured them that medalists in Para Sukma 2024 would receive incentives, with the Sarawak government allocating funds for this purpose.
“However, we will not disclose the quantum of the incentive for now. Incentives will also be given to athletes who set new records,” she added.
Deputy Minister of Women and Childhood Development Datuk Rosey Yunus, Deputy Sarawak Secretary (Operation), who is also Sukma and Para Sukma 2024 chief executive officer Datu Hii Chang Kee, Sarawak Welfare Department director Samawi Mohamad and assistant chief de mission for para swimming Datuk Amar Jamilah Anu were present. — DayakDaily
