18 junior archers vying for honours
State junior archers, who are vying for honours at the National Junior Championships in Kuala Lumpur this week, are aiming not only for medals, but also to help raise awareness for good cause.
KOTA KINABALU: State junior archers, who are vying for honours at the National Junior Championships in Kuala Lumpur this week, are aiming not only for medals, but also to help raise awareness for good cause.
The 18-member state team led by team manager Hj Dzulkarnain Dzulkifli are flying the colours of the ‘Save Our Pangolins' campaign to help spread awareness on protecting the critically endangered species.
“Pangolins are the most trafficked mammal and their numbers according to estimates are dwindling.
“We are a sports association but that does not limit our efforts to just sports. There is grave importance to protect this species and we are doing our part to try and aid the cause,” said Dzulkarnain when contacted in the national capital, yesterday.
The Sabah Archery Association president is leading a team of young Sabahan archers and their coaches on a quest for medals in this year's junior championship which features top brass entries from all over the country.
Sabah are traditionally a powerhouse in the sport with a proven track record in recent editions of the Malaysia Games.
But organisers have decided not to include the men's and women's team events, in which Sabah are main contenders for gold medals.
“Unfortunately the men's and women's team events have been dropped in favour of a mixed team event so we will have to try and come up with glitter in other events.
“We still have very good medal prospects in several categories, but we are taking this championship more as a platform for our archers to gain experience and exposure,” Dzulkarnain said.
Sabah are competing in the men's and women's junior compound and recurve as well as the men's and women's cadet recurve.
The Sabah archers include Mohd Haikal Fauzie, Izzan Zaidan Anderson (men's junior recurve), Inkacristie Stephen, Nur Wazira Izzati Junadi (women's junior recurve), Mohd Haziq Amidin, Mohd Nor Syazwan Mohd Mahyuddin (men's junior compound), Ardina Banadus and Thera Dellstey Thomas (women's junior compound).
The others are cadet boys Muhammad Dzulhelmi Dzulkarnain, Putra Mohamad Fyirdous Haron, Mohd Syafiq Bustamin and Izzran Anderson and cadet girls Nicole Nelson, Kaitlyn Hannah Sernam, Siti Nurhuril Ain Junaidi and Ekaputri Aqeela Ali.
Also accompanying the archers are coaches Sulaiman Sadude and Diana Thsen.
The team departed for the competition venue two days ago and will begin competing this afternoon after the morning practice round.