State silat exponents ready for Sukma
President of PSS Pesaka Sabah, Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim, said the State silat exponents would be ready to face the challenges in the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
KOTA KINABALU: President of PSS Pesaka Sabah, Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim, said the State silat exponents would be ready to face the challenges in the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
The Sukma, which was originally scheduled for July 11 to 19 in Johor, has been postponed following the current Covid-19 situation in the country.
And with the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO) since March 18, the state athletes including the silat exponents have been training on their own while waiting for the announcement of a new date for the country’s premier multisport event.
“We have come up with a detailed planning in preparation for the Sukma 2020, which Johor was supposed to host in July. But, it has now been postponed.
“Our preparation too have been disrupted by the Covid10 pandemic but I believed our athletes are able to maintain their performance despite doing their own training at home following the MCO, which has now been extended to April 14,” he said yesterday.
Iliyas assured that the state silat athletes were in good condition having undergone centralised training from February 3 to 9 and then from March 11 to 16.
He said the squad comprised 30 athletes, of which 17 are male and 13 female, where they will shoulder the state challenge in Sukma.
“The 30 athletes were those from the initial squad of 60 trainees. They (30 athletes) were picked and took part in the centralised training held at the MPMS hall along Jalan Tuaran here from March 11 to 16.
“However, they will now continue to train at home due to the MCO,” he said.
Iliyas went on to say that PSS Pesaka Sabah will monitor the athletes’ progress and ensure that they maintain their fitness and performance level.
That said, Iliyas revealed they have a list of athletes ever ready to be called up should the current athletes in the state Sukma squad suffer injury or illness.
For the record, the state squad train under coaches Emy Latif, Nurulain Sohrab and Mohammad Daud while the team manager is Awang Mesri Awang Kepli who is also PSS Pesaka Sabah deputy president.
“The athletes know their responsibilities and the expectations. Silat contributed the most gold medals for Sabah contingent in Sukma 2018, we know we will have a tougher task in the next Sukma.
“We have not set any target but if we can retain the five gold, it will be an outstanding achievement,” he said while adding Sabah silat also won two silver and three bronzes in Perak two years ago.
Meanwhile, the Sukma main organising committee recently confirmed the postponement of the 20th edition of the Games following the Covid-19 outbreak.
It was proposed that the Games will be held either later in December or to forward it entirely to 2021.