By Lester J. Bingkasan
Sukma athletes for training stint in the Philippines
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Malaysia Games (Sukma) athletics team will undergo a one-month training stint in the Philippines.
The squad of 10 athletes and three officials left for the neighbouring country on Monday where the training stint will run until June 6.
Team manager Ali Aman said, the athletes were all gold prospects for Sukma 2018 which will be hosted by Perak in September.
“The athletes will undergo centralised training at the National Sports Training Centre Teachers Camp in Baguio City.
“It will be the first phase of preparation for our Sukma athletes where we have selected 10 gold prospects.
“The athletes will also compete in the Philippines Open Athletics Championship at the City of Ilagan from May 31 to June 4,” said Ali via WhatsApp yesterday.
Ali went on to say that the State Sukma squad will return to the Philippines for the second phase of preparation between August and September.
The athletes picked for the overseas centralised training are Riksi Tahir (400m, 4x400m), Zaidiekhan Kanisus (400m, 4x400m), Zulkifli Saidin (shot putt), Shahrimien Saimoh (400, 4x400m), Mohammad Erwan Amir Hamja (800m, 1,500m), Brynoth Alarick Larry (shot putt), Marlin Hing William (1,500m, 5,000m), Karmentina Nadia Quadra (100m hurdles), Chelsea Cassiopea Evali Bopulas (100m, 200m, 4x100m) and Isaiah Ng (400m).
The officials accompanying the squad are coaches Sulaiman Arman and Mario Ocado Pajarillo as well as Ali.