Keningau lead SAGA gold count, 4 archery records smashed
KOTA KINABALU: Keningau remained on top of the VIII Sabah Games (SAGA) medal standings as four games record were set in archery in Sandakan as of yesterday.
A haul of 10 gold, five silver and one bronze medals saw them lead by six gold against the nearest team Tawau, who have four gold in addition to seven silver and five bronze medals while Kota Kinabalu collected three gold, two silver and four bronze to occupy third placing.
Pencak Silat was arguably Keningau’s biggest gold mine where they won six out of eight finals on Saturday.
The other two gold medals were from archery and one each from karate and sepak takraw.
As for Sandakan, the hosts are currently 10th among 26 participating contingents with three silver and three bronze medals.
For the record, 26 gold, 26 silver and 31 bronze medals have been given out as of yesterday afternoon.
In all, the state premier multisport event offered 197 gold, 197 silver and 285 bronze medals until the final day of competition on December 15.
Meanwhile, four game records were smashed in the archery events happening at the Sandakan Sports Complex field yesterday.
Nur Wariza Izzati Junaidi smashed two of the records while fellow Tawau archer Zachary Chong and Keningau’s Noryfasikin Bilau achieved one each.
Nur Wariza hit 249 points en route to erase the old mark by Delaine Bonilung of Kota Kinabalu by six points en-route to winning the gold in the women’s Individual 70m Recurve event.
She also added a second gold medal in record fashion in the Individual 60m Recurve event where she totalled 271 points to better Lianna Chong Vun San’s, also of Tawau, mark of 236 points.
In fact, silver medallist Siti Nur Khadujah Adam Malik of Sandakan and bronze medallist Doreen Dodih of Papar also bettered the games record with 249 points and 247 points respectively.
However, the record belongs to Nur Wariza with her extraordinary effort.
Tawau also celebrated a third record from archery through Chong in the Men’s Individual 70m Compound event with 334 points.
The old mark was set by Yap Vui Shen of Kota Kinabalu with 319 points.
Noryfasikin, who on Saturday earned the distinction of being the first VIII SAGA gold medallist, grabbed her second gold medals in the women’s Individual 60m Compound event.
The Keningau lass sharpshooter hit 323 points to smash Kota Kinabalu’s Allysa Edmond’s old mark of 322 points.
The sports event were only held for half a day yesterday to make way for the VIII SAGA opening ceremony last night.