Sarawak archers eye four gold in Perak
KUCHING: Sarawak head coach Jaffery Low Wei Loon is optimistic that the state archers can maintain or improve their performance at the Sukma XIX archery competition at Universiti Teknologi Petronas, Tronoh in Perak from Sept 15-21.
At the last Sukma in Sarawak two years ago, the state archers won three gold, two silver and three bronze medals.
Low said he is not feeling under pressure as he is confident that the archers can deliver the target of four golds this year.
“I took over as the head coach in January this year and before this the archers had undergone intensive training and they are shooting well during centralised training that started in mid August.
“It will also depend on the archer’s performance on the competition day. We have a good chance of winning medals in the compound events while the archers have also improved in the recurve,” said Low.
“Our strength is the archers’ strong fighting spirit.”
Low, who is former national archer from Penang, has been involved in the sport for 20 years as an archer and coach.
He had also coached in an archery academy in Thailand for two years.
“Archery offers 24 gold medals
It will also depend on the archer’s performance on the competition day. We have a good chance of winning medals in the compound events while the archers have also improved in the recurve. Jaffery Low Wei Loon, Sarawak head coach
and I believe Sukma Sarawak gold medallists Ngu Gao Teck (men’s 50m compound), Kho Yee Ting (women’s 70m compound) are capable of defending their titles while Natasha Ting Sze Pei (women’s recurve) and Ting Kee Wei (men’s compound) look good for gold,” added Low.
He picked Terengganu, Penang, Sabah and improving Perak as the teams to beat in Sukma XIX.
Low added that the state archers gained valuable experience in competing in the Sarawak open in Sibu in March, National Circuit in Melaka in June and Universiti Utara Malaysia Open ( Kedah) in July this year.
Other members of the men’s team are Chio Chung Yin, Ryhsno Careen Ramli, Jee Kuok Liang, Bryson Ting Tiew Lung, Liew Yu Vui, Abang Haikal Najmie Abang Iskandar and Supang Yahya while the women’s team include Lee Siaw Jing, Lee Siaw Ying, Vanessa Voon Li Ping, Esther Yong Yin Tze and Amber Francesca Naja Edwin.
Allan Siden Gramong is the assistant chef- de- mission for archery while the team manager is Louis Simon Peter and the assistant coaches are Ahmad Alif Fadhulullah Alwi and Suryani Effendi.