Two more silver for UMS
KOTA KINABALU: Universiti Malaysia Sabah bagged two more silver medals at the Higher Learning Institutions Sports Carnival (SUKIPT) held in Bangi, Selangor yesterday.
The medals were won by Cristina Ideris in the Women’s Class E silat events and JI Fedalliah Claritta Jaimin in the women’s long jump in athletics.
Cristina, who is dubbed the ‘iron lady’ of UMS because of her involvement in other sports like rugby, net ball and karate, failed to defend her gold medal when one of her strikes was disallowed after it forced her opponent to retire.
“At that time, she was actually leading by two points but one of her strikes landed on the face and the judges awarded the win to her opponent after the latter could not continue the match,” said UMS sports centre director Mohd Asyraaf Fong Abdullah.
Today, Cristina will compete in karate events to try to make up for yesterday’s disappointment.
The two additional silver medals brought UMS’ tally to one gold, five silver and one bronze. The other medals were won by the taekwondo squad on the first day of the biannual games.
UMS is represented by 18 athletes and seven officials. They are targeting two gold medals and are competing in six sports disciplines, namely taekwondo, silat, karate, athletics, tenpin bowling and petanque.
More than 100 contingents involving public and private universities, colleges, polytechniques and community colleges are taking part in the games, which is ongoing until February 10.