Sabah banking on Yakob, Kenny to deliver gold
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah are banking on Yakob Mangkabung and Kenny Leon to deliver the two gold medals target at the Mr Malaysia Championships in Melaka, this weekend.
Sabah Body Building Association (SBBA) president Joannes Staneslous said they were quietly confident the two who are from the state capital can achieve the target.
“Yakob will be competing in the Masters category while Kenny is taking part in the middle weight.
“Both have proved their ability and we are sticking with them to deliver the two gold medals target,” Joannes said when contacted here yesterday.
Yakob, 65, from Putatan earned the confidence of state officials when he won his category in the Mr Sabah Championship at Pan Borneo Hotel here, on June 30.
Kenny, 23, from Manggatal did not win his category at the State championship but showed tremendous improvement in the one month build-up to the selection of state athletes for the national championship.
According to State coach Joseph Sylvester, there was another candidate for gold in Remy Rahim Bungkal but SBBA decided to put him on the silver medal list due to tough competition.
Incidentally, Remy and Kenny are competing in the same category.
The other two who are targeted for silver medals are Christie Cletus (light heavy) and Chok Lei Fong (heavy weight), while Henro Lee (light weight), Reano Enggah (light middle) and Leonard Elnino Yam (junior welter) are poised for bronze.
The State contingent comprising 11 athletes and six officials will be departing for Kuala Lumpur today to head to the Riverside Hotel in Melaka where the competition will be held on August 17-20.
Accompanying Joannes who is also team manager, is Joseph (state coach), Alik Makim (judge), Jeffery Thadeus (assistant coach), Meilaura Dora Jimmy (technical officer) and Deborah Lynn Onul (chaperon).
The other athletes on the team include Jayde Emmanuel Julius (junior light), Terrence Watis and Dean Julian. Terrance and Dean will be competing in the physiques competition for 170cm and below and 170cm and above respectively.
Meanwhile, Joannes thanked Sabah Sports Council director Terrance Edward Pudin for his support.
He also thanked managing director of Mizume Tours and Travel Sdn Bhd Christopher Chaw Wing Teck for the sponsorship of track suits and colouring.