Sabah’s winning prowess continues in Arafura Games
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah continued to rake in the medals including gold as they concluded competitions for athletics and swimming in the ongoing Arafura Games in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
After opening the first two days of competitions with seven gold, six silver and five bronze msdals, the state contingent added another four gold, five silver and two bronze medals.
And as of Tuesday midnight, the state contingent have accumulated 11 gold, 11 silver and seven bronze medals from the two sports.
The additional medals were all from the pool where the state swimmers Lovell Wong registered two wins in the women’s 50m breaststroke in 35.38s and 100m breatstroke in 1:19.96s
Chu Xin Ying then added the women’s 200m freestyle gold to the collection after posting 2:15.92s in the final.
Sabah’s Para athlete Abdul Halim Mohammad also contributed a gold from the men’s 50m butterfly in 36.52s. It was Abdul Halim’s second gold in the Games.
The silver medals came from Xin Ying in the 50m breaststroke in 38.45s, Cheng Kah Man (women’s 50m backstroke 32.60s,) and three from Abdul Halim (50m breaststoke in 39.33s; 200m Individual Medley in 3:10.71s; 100m breaststroke in 1:33.12s).
Para swimmer Brenda Annelia Larry won the extra bronze medals from the women’s 50m backstroke in 1:27.35s and 50m butterfly in 1:10.98s.
Overall, Sabah athletics squad totalled four gold, three silver and three bronze medals while the swimming team won five gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
In the Para events, the athletics squad added one silver while the swimming team contributed two gold, four silver and two bronze medals to the Sabah medal standings.
Sabah sent a 28-member contingent to the April 26-May 5 Games and have entered in only three out of the 17 sports competitions.
Athletics and swimming competitions ended on April 29 and April 30 respectively and the quest for gold will continue in the sepak takraw events.
The four-day sepak takraw competition started on May 1 where Sabah are represented by the women’s players competing in the ‘regu’ and doubles events at the Darwin Convention Centre.
Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Arunarnsin Taib, who is also the state head of delegation to the Arafura Games, and Sabah Sports Council director-cumcontingent chief Mohd Asneh Mohd Noor are in Australia to support the state athletes.