Gloves are on as Sabah boxers target two Sukma gold

KOTA KINABALU: A newlook Sabah boxing squad are eyeing a two-gold showing when the 19th Malaysia Games (Sukma) gets under way in Perak later this month.

Team manager John Adriano believed the target was achievable, thus repeating the double gold haul in Kuching, Sarawak two years ago.

John put weight to the claim by suggesting that the squad’s preparation since March this year, which also included a brief training stint in the Philippines, should prepare the athletes well to face the Sukma challenges.

“Apart from Adrian Junior James and Arick Apar, the rest are mostly new faces. However, I believe the squad will be able to deliver the results.

“With the hard work in training, we are going to give our best to try and return with two gold medals in the upcoming Sukma,” he said here yesterday.

John went on to say that preparation had started immediately after the Mayor Cup tournament in March under the watchful eyes of coaches Adzlin Ganis Apat, Larry Boy Atim andMohd Hudzaifah Reitzat the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas near here.

“The athletes also underwent a short training stint in Baguio City in April and we thank the MSN (Sabah Sports Council) for the opportunity.

“Our boxers sparred with the local elites as well as some from Australia who were there to train as well.

“The coaches are also working out on programmes that will ensure the athletes will be at peak form for Sukma, because boxing is one of the sports that is hard to predict.

“You will only find out how strong your competitions are on the day itself.

“However, our athletes will be fully prepared for the Games and we will try our best,” he added.

Sabah will be sending eight athletes for boxing in Sukma, which Perak will be hosting this year.

They are Fariz Uwaimir Fazil @ Fadzil, Johari Daniel Gray, Kharul Azim Nasser, Mohd Rayyan Rizon, Mohd Shahizan Hamzah and Muhd Izzat Akmal Kamal apart from Adrian and Arick.

The squad will leave for Perak on September 12.