Voon sisters lead charge for judo medals
KUCHING: The Persatuan Judo Sarawak (PJS) have set a modest target of one gold medal at Sukma 2020 in Johor.
They are sending a team of two male and five female judokas which included the Voon sisters Xue Zhi and Xue Jia who had competed at the previous Sukma in Perak.
Xue Zhi was a bronze medallist while Xue Jia finished fifth in the 2018 edition.
“We are eyeing one gold in this Sukma and we are banking our hopes on Xue Zhi to win the gold and Xue Jia to win a medal too.
“It will be a bonus for us if we can win more than one gold medal,” said Sarawak State Sports Council ( MSNS) head coach Brenton Sim.
Xue Jia has been entered for the Women’s 57kg and the kata event while Xue Zhi will compete in the Women’s 52kg.
Xue Zhi and Xue Jia collected the gold and silver in the 57kg event at the recent Kuching Invitational Judo Championship at Aeroville Mall in Stutong.
Other members of the state team are Mohd Syaukie (73kg), Tan Kok Hung (81kg), Geraldine Chung (48kg), Cheryl Chew (78kg) and Chin Sze Ling ( women’s kata).
Brenton, a national judoka from Sarawak who won gold at
Sukma 2011 in Kuala Lumpur, said PJS are planning to send the state judokas for training and exposure outside the state.
“We will be submitting a proposal to MSNS concerning the exposure stint.
“The location is yet to be decided but it will be most likely in Taiwan because I have good connections with the judo community while undergoing my further studies there,” added Brenton.
The 27-year old coach said the state judokas will also be taking part in national-level tournaments from time to time.
“Terengganu and Pulau
Pinang will be the top pick for the competitions as they are the favourite teams to dominate the judo competition in this Sukma,” he revealed.
We are eyeing one gold in this Sukma ... It will be a bonus for us if we can win more than one gold medal.
Brenton Sim