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Amazing Grace shatters Sukma record in Perlis BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Amazing Grace shatters Sukma record in Perlis

Posted: 31 May 2014 10:19 AM PDT

KANGAR: Despite being the youngest in the field in the women's hammer throw, Grace Wong Xiu Mei showed great composure to blow away the other eight competitors with her amazing record throw of 55.82m to clinch the gold medal at Tuanku Syed Putra Stadium yesterday.

The old Sukma record of 50.69m was set by Pahang's Tan Song Hwa in 2008.

The 14-year-old student of SMK Tinggi Sarikei shocked everyone with that first attempt before recording 52.26m and 51.57m in her fourth and sixth throws. Her teammate and hot favourite Casier Renee Lee, also the defending champion, registered her best result of 54.36m to capture the silver medal. Third was Nurfazira from Selangor with a distance of 48.59m.

"I feel very excited and happy to win the gold and surprised even myself that I can beat Casier (Renee Lee) because I was nervous and thought I could only get the silver," said Grace who was carrying a back injury.

"I was just trying to do my best and didn't expect to win and break the Games record."

Grace, who won the MSSM national schools title for the event in 50.66m last month, said she was just hoping to finish among the top three throwers.

After Sukma, Grace will be setting her sights at the national record of 58.71m also held by Tan Song Hwa in an international championship in Hungary in 2011.

Even Grace's mentor and coach Thomas Ling Neng Thung was surprised with her performance yesterday.

"It is out of my expectations. Throwing to 55.82m is already beyond her capability," he said.

Ling said all the hard work in training by Grace had paid off dividends and she could do even better in Sukma 2016 provided she maintains her physique and continues to train hard.

"Grace is really fantastic today. Her result of 55.82m is better than the SEA Games result of 54.98m won by a Thai athlete in Myanmar."

Meanwhile, Sarawak's second gold medal of the day came from Faradillah Raznie who won the women's 800m in a time of 02:18.99.

Second and third were Nik Norzilawatie of Kelantan and Norhailizah Mungkit from Sabah who clocked 02:21.26 and 02:22.68 respectively.

"I would like to dedicate my gold to my mother Giah Ter in Spaoh, Betong because I have not seen her for six months. I was training under my idol and coach Jironi Reduan at Bandar Penawar Sports School in Johor all this while and I am very glad to have won the gold that I have targeted before the competition," said Faradillah.

"This is also my pet event," said the silver medallist in the women's 800m and 1,500m in Pahang Sukma two years ago.

Apart from the two gold and one silver, Sarawak won two bronze medals through Celine Kong in the women's javelin and Nur Aisyah Ahmat in the women's 10,000m walk, thus bringing the athletics team's medal haul to five golds, two silvers and four bronzes.

Team manager Dato Fong Onn Min was pleased with the collection of more medals yesterday.

"We have achieved our target of winning four or five golds in this Sukma and anything we win tomorrow on the final day of competition will be a bonus," he said.

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Getting to bottom of under-performing sports

Posted: 31 May 2014 10:17 AM PDT

Sarawak chef-de-mission and Assistant Sports Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin revealed that the state team will launch an investigation on the few under-achieving sports at this year's Sukma.

He told reporters during a press conference yesterdaythat he wants to know why a few gold medals were lost and some gold medal prospects did not perform up to expectations.

"There may be a few technical problems or some difficulties faced by the athlete or the coaching staff hence the need to find a solution before we move on to prepare for the 2016 Sukma," he said.

Feedback, he added, was needed from the all the sports team competing in Sukma so that mistakes are not repeated.

"We do a postmortem every time after after the games but this time we got to be serious if we want to win the 2016 Sukma. Everybody involved must speak up now and tell us what they need," he advised.

Lee was accompanied by assistant chef-de-mission Affandi Keli during the press conference held at the Sarawak contingent secretariat office at Jalan Sekolah Derma in Kangar, Perlis.

The on-going 17th Sukma in Perlis will end on June 4.

Sarawak will organise the 2016 Sukma and the state is aiming not only to host the best ever Sukma but to emerge as overall champions.

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Taekwondo and swimming continue to deliver for Sarawak

Posted: 31 May 2014 10:17 AM PDT

Marena Tee Zulariffin and Dayang Farhanah Abang Sazali got the Sarawak taekwondo team to a golden start on the first day of competition at the Perlis Matriculation College yesterday.

Marena, who received a bye in the first round, had beaten Nerosha of Selangor in the last eight of the women's middleweight (67-73kg) and Siti Nurhanin of Perak in the semi-finals. She proved just too good for Thava Kumarisa of Terengganu in the lop-sided final which she won 11-2.

In the women's fly weight (46-49kg), Farhanah performed up to expectations to beat Jasmin Nabila from Kuala Lumpur 15-3.

However, Sarawak's other exponents Leslie Kong and Chai Chun Hui were unable to get through the final stages of their respective categories.

Swimming continued to contribute medals to the state contingent, with Vernon Lee Jeau Zhi splashing to the men's 400m freestyle gold.

The silver medallists were Angela Chieng Chui Fei (women's 400m freestyle) and the men's team of Vernon Lee, Welson Sim, Anson Go and Allister Chung (men's 4x100m freestyle relay) while Alex Tiong won the bronze in the men's 100m breaststroke.

After three days of competition at the Perlis Sports Complex aquatic centre, Selangor are leading the swimming medal tally with nine golds, 13 silvers and 11 silvers, followed by Kuala Lumpur with nine golds, six silvers and five bronzes while Sarawak sit in third position with seven golds, four silvers and two bronzes.

Late Friday, the mixed doubles pair of Nerosha Keligit and Muhd Safiq Sajeli delivered another silver medal for Sarawak with their score of 2,555 pinfalls.

As at 8:30pm yesterday, Sarawak maintained their third position in the overall medal tally standings with 25 golds, 14 silvers and 19 bronzes, finishing just two golds ahead of Selangor and Pahang.

Terengganu remained the leaders with 34 golds, 33 silvers and 18 bronzes while in second spot are Kuala Lumpur with 32 golds, 24 silvers and 19 bronzes.

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Bronze not enough for boxer Aisamuddin

Posted: 31 May 2014 10:16 AM PDT

Sarawak boxer Mohd Aisamuddin Mohamad is guaranteed of at least a bronze medal.

H won his semi-final bout in the 56kg category against Perak's Nur Aidi Nazrin Aliyah yesterday.

It was a close call according to the decision of the judges although Aisamuddin looked the more dominant through the three rounds.

Sarawak coach Fred Mandagi is fully behind Aisamuddin's ambition to get the gold.

"He strongly believes that he has got what it takes. I know his opponent in the final will be tough, but I have faith in Aisamuddin," he said.

Aisamuddin will take on Penang's Jagadish Alongovan in the final on Tuesday (June 3).

He had returned empty-handed when he last competed in the previous Sukma.

For 2014, he says he is fighting for a medal, a gold.

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Tournaments to help revitalise Limbang football

Posted: 31 May 2014 10:07 AM PDT

LAWAS: The Women Football Championship and Sembilan Sebelah (Ranting) Armada Bukit Championship were successfully wrapped up here yesterday.

The tournaments served as a platform to revive Limbang district's past success in nurturing football star players.

"Once upon time, Limbang was the hidden gem with many talents waiting to be discovered," Minister of Resource Planning and Environment (II) Datuk Amar Tengah Ali Hasan said when he officiated at the two championships yesterday.

Also present at the ceremony were Lawas MP Datuk Henry Sum Agung, Bukit Kota Adun assemblyman Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail, Resident of Limbang Maria Hasman, Lawas District officer Hussaini Hakim, PBB Bukit Sari deputy chief branch Cr. Awangku Jinal Abidin Pengiran Jawa, PBB Bukit Sari chief youth Cr. Simie Nasip, PBB Bukit Kota chief youth Cr. Sufian Mohat and PBB exco members from Bukit Sari and Bukit Kota.

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Joseph aims for top five in Johor

Posted: 31 May 2014 10:05 AM PDT

SIBU: Promising youngster Joseph Goh is gunning for a top five placing in the Malaysia and Singapore Chen Shi Taijiquan Championship to be held in Johor on June 6.

The 18-year-old taijiquan specialist from SMK Methodist admitted it was a tall order for him to deliver.

"Hopefully, I will be able to rise on the occasion and bring back something for the state to cherish," he said.

Goh, sole representative of Chenstyle Taijiquan Association for the meet, will be taking part in the chenshitaijiquan and chenshitaiji broadsword events.

Frankie Hii, the other rising star from the association, will not be taking part due to hand injuries sustained when preparing for the Sibu International Dance Festival.

"I am shouldering a heavy responsibility in the absence of Hii and I hope to really stamp my mark and set an impact at the championship so that I can build a name for myself."

More than 50 exponents from Malaysia and Singapore are taking part in the championship organised by Johore Chen Shi Taijiquan Association.

Goh took up taijiquan two years ago. Last year, he took part in the 3rd Beijing Wushu Culture cum Kung Fu Exchange Conference in Beijing  and returned with a third placing.

Chief coach Gilbert Wong, who described Goh as a rare gem, would like the athlete to stay mentally focused.

"I have reminded him to remain level-headed and not to take in too much pressure. If he can perform according to script, he should be able to come back with a medal."

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