WITH two more days to go before the 20th Sukma (Malaysia Games) ends this Saturday, Penang’s 26-gold target is within its reach.
This came after the sepak takraw men’s regu team today clinched the 25th gold medal for the Penang contingent after defeating Selangor at the Dewan Sarjana, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN).
As expected, they overcame Selangor 2-0, winning 21-15 and 21-17.
In the semi-finals, Penang knocked out Terengganu 2-0.
The team comprised captain Muhamad Zulhusni Basri, Mohamad Haikal Mohamad Jamil, Muhammad Zarif Marican Ibrahim Marican, and reserve players Amir Syahiran Mohd Fuzi and Muhammad Faisal Mohd Fuad.
When met, its team manager Ismadi Abu Bakar told Buletin Mutiara that he was delighted with the way his team performed.
“This gold was one of the targets set by the state sepak takraw association.
“Overall, we were aiming for two golds and one bronze medal. We managed one goal and one bronze, but I must say our performances in Sukma 2022 were tremendous and up to expectation. They are worth celebrating,” he said.
Chef-de-mission Soon Lip Chee, who is also state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee, was called upon to present the medals to the players.
At Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, the Penang archery team won a silver medal through Naveer Fikri Zinuldin in the men’s individual 70m recurve event.
State archery coach G. Shamini said she was proud of all the 14 archers representing Penang, nine of whom are newcomers.
“Initially, we targeted only one gold, but we have achieved one gold and five silvers in total. It’s a marvellous achievement!” she said.
Another silver was secured at the National Velodrome in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan today, thanks to national athlete Nurul Aliana Syafika.
This was her third silver after having finished runner-up in the women’s individual sprint and women’s 500m sprint.
Although feeling disappointed for not bagging a gold in the women’s keirin today, Nurul Aliana said she had given her best to finish second behind her Kedah rival and ahead of a Selangor cyclist.
“I won three silvers in this Sukma, which is something that I will always remember and cherish,” she said.
Over at the Dewan Teratai in Shah Alam, Selangor, the state women’s volleyball team performed beyond expectations to win a silver medal.
The pair of Mashitah Muhd Nasir, 16, and Noor Aishah Iskandar, 17, who were both making their debut, went down fighting against their Selangor counterparts before losing 2-0.
Mashitah showed plenty of grit as she was troubled by an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury while Noor Aishah tried her best to cover the court.
Meanwhile, in Putrajaya, 20-year-old Penangite Muhammad Hazwan Abdul Wahab finished third behind Muhammad Hafizuddin Roslin from Perlis and Muhammad Erry Hidayat from Federal Territory (FT) in men’s 81kg weightlifting.
“I’m glad to finish my last Sukma appearance with a medal for Penang. I aim to get a spot in the SEA Games in Cambodia next year,” Hawzan said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad