Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah contingent to the National Special Olympics Junior Development Sports Championships (S-JDSC) 2025 has made the State proud by securing a total of 16 medals consisting of 6 golds, 8 silvers and 2 bronzes at the national-level tournament held on June 28-29 in Ipoh, Perak.
Led by head of delegation Rusmani Binjin and team manager Taren Sunil Manoharan, the team exceeded expectations with stellar performances across three sporting categories: athletics, badminton, and bocce.
“It was a tremendous boost to the confidence of our athletes. They proved they could rise to the occasion and excel even at the national level,” said an elated Taren, who is also Vice-Chairman of Special Olympics Sabah and Chairman of the Sandakan Chapter.
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Sabah’s gold medallists were Mohd Safri Ramis (shot putt); Daniel Fraez Felgius (long jump); Rickyden Heron (badminton men’s singles); Esam Isa (bocce men’s singles); Malisa Musrikin (bocce women’s singles); and Natasha Nordin and Ainul Mardiani (bocce women’s doubles).
The silver medals were won by Yusri Ramli (long jump, mixed relay); Intan Azwana Ibrahim (shot putt); Sherlyn Rimond (badminton); Mohd Rafizwan Achmat and Mohammad Al Azierul Ajmain (badminton doubles); Delbert Chok (bocce men’s singles); Natasha Nordin (bocce women’s singles), Delbert Chok and Chia Vui Ken (bocce men’s doubles); and Marissa Masiun, Ayumie Farain Abdullah and Iqram Muhaimin Abdullah (mixed relay). The bronze medals came from Chia Vui Ken and Ainul Mardiana (bocce mixed team) and Marissa Masiun (long jump).
The Sabah contingent’s athletics team was coached by Umi Kalsum Isa and Masdorah Bzamban; the badminton team by Fiona Baru and Rick Bett Rick Charles; and the bocce athletes were guided by Ahmad Aiden Asyraf Majanggong, Chang Chun Moi @ Maria J. Chang and Florence James.
Taren expressed hope that the Sabah team’s remarkable achievements will serve as a catalyst for greater public and private sector support for Special Olympics initiatives in the State.
“This success will motivate us to organise more sports programmes for individuals with special needs. It’s high time that the public becomes more aware of the important work being done by Special Olympics Sabah and our Sandakan chapter.”
“We are confident this outstanding performance will lead to increased sponsorship and community involvement in our future activities,” he added.