KUCHING — Sarawak Para Sukma Games athletes and coaches are back on the field training since March 15, and have set a target to win their 14th title at the 2022 Para Sukma Games in Johor.
State Minister of Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said they were carrying out their training programmes according to the planned schedules at the State Youth and Sports Complex here and several other venues.
“They are seriously preparing for the Para Sukma Games 2022 and we target to win 60 gold medals, 45 silvers and 30 bronzes and we are confident to win the Games title for the 14th time,” she told reporters after visiting the training centre today.
Sarawak will be taking part in 10 sports, namely archery, athletics, badminton, boccia, chess, lawn bowls, powerlifting, table tennis, tenpin bowling and swimming.
She said a total of 165 athletes were undergoing training at the complex and being paid monthly training allowances.
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According to her, elite athletes who are potential gold medallists are paid RM1,500 each, RM800 to (A back-up players (potential silver and bronze medallists), RM700 to B back-up players (potential silver medallists), RM600 to the C (potential bronze medallists), and RM400 to new athletes.
“The monthly allowances are being paid as it has been proven that during the MCO (Movement Control Order) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these athletes were in a difficult situation as they lost their income since the business entities that usually hire them were forced to close.
“The state government is concerned and wants to ensure that these selected athletes with disabilities can perform well in their respective sports. All these early preparations are for them to enhance their sporting skills and talents for the upcoming Para Sukma Games in Johor Bahru 2022,” she said.
As for the Malaysia Deaf Sports Association (SOPMA) Games 2022, she said Sarawak aimed to select 60 athletes who would start training in July in four sports — athletics, badminton, tenpin bowling and futsal – with the target of winning six gold medals.
— BERNAMA
