Colourful, dazzling opening for 19th Sukma

IPOH: With the theme ‘Wow Kita Hebat’, ( Wow We’re the Greatest) the 19th Malaysia Games (Sukma) opened in spectacular light and colours at Perak Stadium here last night.

In a symbolic launch, the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Shah placed a keris into a sheath which triggered a laser to light up the torch of the championship much to the cheers of all present in the stadium.

Before this, the Sultan received the torch brought by Perak chef de mission, Loo Kum Zee, a former national high jumper who had brought honours to country in the international arena.

Earlier, the opening ceremony began with the march past by state contingents starting with Sarawak, Kedah, Kelantan, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Selangor, Terengganu, Federal Territory, Johor, Brunei Darussalam and Perak headed by Loo.

After the march past, the Perak Sukma mascot, a seladang bull named Chor entered the field followed by the singing of the theme song “Wow! We’re the Greatest, composed by Datuk Wah Abdul Hamid Idris and the opening presentation named Indera Sakti performed by 700 participants.

About 4 0,0 0 0 spectators witnessed the biennial games opening ceremony including 25,000 inside stadium while the rest watch event at three giant screens outside the stadium.

Sukma 2018 will be held from Sept 12 to 22 with 427 gold medals in 29 sports in competition at 39 venues in 12 districts all over Perak.

The 19th Sukma is the second time Perak are hosting the championship after their first attempt in 1994.

— Photo by Ng Joon Si The Sarawak Contingent, comprising 700 athletes and officials and led by Chef-de-mission Datuk Snowdan Lawan, was the first contingent to march into the Perak Stadium at a wet Sukma XIX opening ceremony last night. The contingent have set a target of 77 gold medals with the aim of wresting the overall title. It was 24 years ago that Sarawak last emerged as Sukma champions when the biennial national games was also held in Perak in 1994. Yesterday, wushu athlete Lee Hui Xian picked up Sarawak’s first gold medal in the Nandao event (see Page 20).