Sabah add 6 gold, 6 silver, 12 bronze to medal tally
KOTA KINABALU: Smiles are back on Sabah contigent after a six-gold haul on the eighth day of the 19th Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perak.
It was by far the most gold won on a single competition day by Sabah contingent since Sukma officially started on September 12.
And the state contingent, who also added six silver and 12 bronze yesterday, did it in some styles too.
Andre Anura @ Anuar set a new record in athletics, Eugenius Lo Foh Soon continued his golden run in archery, the women sepak takraw teams deliver yet another gold, cycling and silat won their first gold in on-going games while Gabriel Gilbert Daim and Jellson Jabidin were just superb on the pool.
Tenom lad Andre was the centre of attention at the Perak Stadium as he set a new games record in the men’s Triple Jump with 15.91m. It was also Sabah first gold from the track and field event.
Gabriel and Jellson, who were SEA Games 2017 gold medallists, combined to win the men’s Synchronised 3m Springboard diving event.
It was also Gabriel second gold of the games having won the individual event of the 3m Springboard two days earlier.
Eugenius, who had already won three gold and one silver as well as setting games records, added a fourth gold from the men’s Compound Individual event, scoring 145 points to beat Penang’s M. Khambeswaran with 144 points.
There is still the men’s Team Compound to take place and if Eugenius was to help Sabah win, he might be on the running for the mosty outstanding male athlete in Sukma.
In cycling, unheralded Mohd Faizikry Jumah won gold in 1:05:21s in the men’s Cross-Country 1.5Hr beating the much favoured duo of Pahang’s Muhamad Khairul Aniq Mohd Ghazali (1:06:36s) and Terengganu’s Zulfadli Iswadi Zainal (1:09:07s).
Nuratikah Mustafah then won a gold in the Women’s Singles (Jurus Tunggal Baku) last night.
As for sepak takraw, the state women’s players showed they prowess by winning in the women’s Trio final.
The squad comprising Elizah Blanda @ Bahari, Madziatul Rosmahani Saidin, Nur Fateha Rossli, Razmah Anam and Siti Hadinavilla Jumidil defeated Perak 21-18, 21-12 in the final last night.
Sabah however missed out on a second gold of the day from sepak takraw after the women’s Doubles consisting of Kamisah Khamis, Nadillatul Rosmahani Saidin and Nurfaezahni Masri lost 21-16, 24-25, 14-21 to Sarawak in the final.
It was one of six silver Sabah won where the others came from artistic gymnastic with two and athletics, sepak takraw as well as swimming with one each.
Artistic gymnast Brandon Denoley Luise bagged two of the silver from the men’s Floor Exercise and Vault disciplines.
In ahletics, the state women’s 4x100m final quartet of Chelsea Cassiopea Evali Bopulas, Ikma Syaffiera Duris, Karmentina Nadia Quadra and Nur Aishah Rofina Aling settled for second best with 47.51s. Terengganu won the gold in 47.01s and Kedah with the bronze in 48.74.
Swimming also claimed their first medal in Sukma through Cheng Ka Man, Chu Xin Ying, Loo Yie Bing and Wong Hsiao Thang, clocking 4:06.57s to finish second in the women’s 4x100m freestyle behind winners Selangor (4:00.25s).
The sixth silver came from the Men’s Doubles (Ganda) event.
As for the bronze medals, Ainie Markus settled for third placing with 1:16:26s for the women’s CrossCountry 1.5Hr.
The men’s 4x100m relay squad of Desmond Wong, Tonga Jody Edmund, Mohammad Nor Musyaraf Mohd Sari and Muhammad Din Norbik finished third in 40.42s with Terengganu and Perak taking gold and silver in 40.21s and 40.40s respectively.
Boxing also contributed four bronzes which were awarded automatically to the losing semifinalists.
They are Fariz Uwaimir Fazil @ Fadzil in the 95kg weight division, Johari Daniel Gray (60kg), Mohd Syahmizan Hamsah (81kg) and Adrian Junior James (64kg).
In Muay, Sabah exponents Riedzwan Norsyahmie Daud (men’s 48kg-51kg) and Nur Adriana Dania Nazri (women’s 45kg-48kg) won bronzes after also losing their semifinal bouts.
After Joysherlyn Junih and Rozinah Janil delivered the silver from women’s Pair on Tuesday night, Pencak Silat added another three bronzes yesterday through Andi Ahmad Mohd Ali in the men’s Class I (85kg-90kg), Amran Maklin in the men’s Class J (90kg-95kg) and Nor Farah Mazlan in the women’s Class A (45kg-50kg).
In football, Sabah retained the bronze they won in Sarawak Sukma two years ago after a 2-1 victory in the third and fourth place playoff at Manjung Municipal Council Stadium.
Overall, Sabah have collected 20 gold, 19 silver and 35 bronzes with three-day of competition in Sukma which will concluded on September 22.