Kota Kinabalu: Sabah has reached double digits in their gold medal tally at the Sarawak Sukma Games on Monday.
Muaythai contributed two with another one from the track and field as the State contingent won a total of 10 golds since the Games began on August 17.
As expected, World Wai Kru Champion Angie Yan Jia Chi was not made to sweat in delivering the gold in the women’s category by scoring 9.70 points against 9.30 points gathered by her Sarawakian opponent Nur Iklil Zarifah Mohd Affandi in the final.
Fellow teammates Jezzevelle Myora Jerry and Myra Arina Roslan won the second medal in the women’s mai muaythai event after beating the Sarawak pair Ain Arisya Zulkeplie and Nur Arifah Mahsunah Baharom 9.30-9.27. (From left) Muaythai exponents Asyraf, Myra, Angie, Jezzevelle, Iftikharsyahlan and Marshall showing off their medals.
SPONSORED CONTENT Hajiji says young business professionals' inputs needed to develop Sabah Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said he welcomed inputs from young business professionals to assist in policy formulation. Read more The muaythai contingent also won two silvers through Muhd Iftikharsyahlan As Roslan in the men’s wai kru and the men’s mai muaythai duo of Asyraf Danial Abd Latif and Marshall Jayden Jerry.
State muaythai head coach Cyrille Dhillon Tahing when contacted was satisfied with the overall performance of the athletes and hoped they will be able to deliver more golds in coming events.
“I am satisfied with the achievement this time even though we had to settle for two golds and two silvers in the art category.
“The athletes have managed to show very good performance in a high level competition. However, our struggle is still not over, there are still four more combat categories to be contested tomorrow and we will try our best to win at least another gold medal for the State,” he said. Ku Yee won gold in the women’s high jump.
The State contingent had earlier won the first gold of the day in the women’s high jump event from Ku Yee Aleng with a clearance at 1.64 metres.
She said it was a mixed emotion following the win as her late father Ku Boon Yu who passed away seven years ago was the first person that came to her mind despite being not really supportive in her athletics ambition and wanted her to focus more on her studies instead.
In addition to the three golds and two silvers, Sabah also won three more silvers from Irene Jane Henry in the weightlifting women’s below 45kg, Pang Hing Seng in men’s shot put and the mixed 4x400m relay in athletics.
Four more bronzes were also won from Mark Dylan Marcus (weightlifting men’s 61kg), Farisha Nur Umairah Zairi (cycling women’s BMX race), Eljoe Gotuoh (athletics men’s triple jump) and Emmanuel Yung Ming Loh (swimming men’s 100m breasttroke).
Meanwhile, the State women’s football team advanced to the semi-final after a 5-4 shootout win over Pahang, Monday morning.
Both teams who drew 1-1 in the opening Group A match had earlier ended the group stage with identical points and goal difference.
They will be taking on the Federal Territories for a place in the final today (Tuesday).
Head coach Peteronella Douny said the win from the shootout has boosted the players confidence and believed they will be motivated to try to beat their opponents today.
“We will definitely try our best. The players are also in good shape and there are no injuries or suspensions to the team, so I can prepare the best line-up and hope everything goes to plan tomorrow,” she said.
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