KUCHING: Boxers who will represent Sarawak at this year’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) XXI are urged to improve their performance in preparation for the biennial national event, which will take place from Aug 17 to 24 in Sarawak.
Sarawak Amateur Boxing Association (Saba) president Datuk Rahman Lariwoo stressed this following the less than convincing achievements of the state squad at the 2024 National Combat Sports Championship held at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Serdang from June 26 to 30.
At the championship, Sarawak placed second behind champions Penang, winning two gold medals, three silver and eight bronze.
“Our boxers need to further improve their performance as Sarawak aims to emerge as the overall champion (at Sukma).
“I will discuss with the coaches and boxers to consider further plans to enhance our preparations,” he said.
Meanwhile, head coach Muhammad Helman Morni said 12 boxers are currently training in Batam, Indonesia, accompanied by Filipino coach Wilbur Andogan.
Three more boxers, Frederick, Bradley and Wafie, will finalise their preparations at the Sarawak Boxing Centre in Kuching with coach Zurkarnain, Filipino coach Reynaldo Inocian, and Helman.
At the championship, Sarawak’s gold medals were contributed by female boxers Clavia Charlene Sudang Kenedy (52kg) and Hamiesha Hamdan (57kg).
Silver medals were won by Patricia Jaquilina Bruce (48kg), Gideon Riquelme Jonathan (75kg), and Clarkson Evans Tom Frankie (48kg).
Meanwhile, bronze medals were earned by Khairil Hazami Sulam (54kg), Frederick Xian Bartholomew Albern (57kg), Lam Wee Liang (60kg), Wan Dhia Danish Wan Muhammad Reza (63.5kg), Syahrul Wafie Khan Amran Khan (80kg), Bradley Jilan Kennedy (86kg), Aidith Aqida Abdullah (92kg), and Marcos Robert (71kg).
The Sukma XXI 2024 boxing event will take place in Sri Aman.
