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Wushu team successfully defend overall title BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sports - New 2 Borneo

Wushu team successfully defend overall title

Posted: 03 Jun 2014 05:19 PM PDT

KANGAR: Sarawak's wushu team successfully defended their overall championship crown by winning five gold, five silver and six bronze medals in Sukma XVII at Dewan Rakan Sukan, Perlis Sports Complex yesterday.

On the final day of competition yesterday, they collected one gold, one silver and three bronzes.

Andy Chan Song Cong made his Sukma exit with a gold won in the men's nangun where he topped the 17-man field by scoring 9.61 points, just pipping Melaka's Chai Chwan Hau by 0.01 point.

Third was Low Wei Yoong of Selangor whose score was 9.40 points.

The day's silver was delivered by Amelia Su Leh Wern who collected 9.54 points in the women's gunshu, finishing only 0.05 points behind the gold medallist and national exponent Loh Ying Ting from Melaka.

It was Amelia's third medal after she won the women's changquan gold and the women's daoshu silver. Third on 9.53 points was Sarawak's Lee Hui Xian.

Clement Thian Fung Seng collected his first Sukma medal in the men's gunshu after scoring 9.53 points.

The gold and silver were won by Johor's Yap Zheng Yan (9.59) and Khaw Jun Lim of Negeri Sembilan (9.55).

Farold also contributed one bronze for Sarawak after he finished third in the men's taijijian. Team manager William Kong has nothing else but praises for the team which had shown great determination and fighting spirit to not only contribute a fair share of the state contingent's gold medal haul but also to finish as the overall champions again.

"We aimed for two medals and we won more than the target which is indeed a big bonus for us. Although we are unable to match the seven- gold, seven-silver and three-bronze achievement in Pahang Sukma, we are still happy to finish top in this Sukma," he said.

"All the team members won at least a medal each except for three girls who are still new. I believe the new blood in the team have gained much valuable experience in this Sukma."

According to Kong, only Liew Lik Kee, Andy Chan and Amelia Su will not be eligible for Sukma 2016.

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Assri, Ariez and Aslina lead tennis sweep

Posted: 03 Jun 2014 05:15 PM PDT

KANGAR: The Sarawak tennis team captured four gold, two silver and three bronze medals to record the state's best ever achievement in Sukma.

On the final day of competition at the Perlis Sports Complex tennis centre, Sarawak swept the golds in the men's singles, women's singles and men's doubles.

US-based player Mohd Assri Merzuki recovered from one set down 4-6 to beat Negeri Sembilan's Syed Mohd Agil Syed Naguib 6-2, 6-4 for the men's singles gold.

Assri then partnered another US-based star Ariez Elyaas Deen Hesham in the men's doubles to beat Damien Rocky Manaval and Sri Aakash of Selangor 6-2, 6-2.

Sarawak's other gold was won by Aslina Chua An Ping who defeated Sharifah Syafeena Syed Azmir from the host Perlis 6-1, 6-3 in the women's singles final.

Sarawak also emerged as the overall champions in the sport with a total medal haul of four golds, two silvers and three bronzes.

A delighted Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association president Dato Patrick Liew said he was pleased with the overall performance of the state players.

"We had set a target of four golds and achieved it but it's such a pity that we dropped the bonus gold in the mixed doubles," he said.

"The results has clearly spoken of our successful development programme and it showed

that we are well ahead of other states in tennis development," he added.

Liew said SLTA will get straight down to preparing the younger players for the challenge in 2016 after Sukma XVII.

"We need to groom the younger players because Assri and Ariez will no longer be eligible for the Sukma XIX to be hosted by Sarawak," he pointed out.

Sarawak did not send a team for the 2012 Sukma in Pahang and they were the overall champions in the 2010 Sukma in Melaka in 2010 with three golds, four silvers and three bronzes.

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Aisamuddin fulfils his golden dream finally

Posted: 03 Jun 2014 05:14 PM PDT

KANGAR: Sarawak boxer Mohamad Aisamuddin Mohamad finally got what he has been dreaming of all these years – a Sukma gold medal.

The 21 year-old will not be eligible for the next Sukma due to the age limit.

Few, if any, athlete has dedicated himself in the way Aisamuddin has to achieve his Sukma goal.

"I am a full time boxer. I do not have a day job as I believe that I will go somewhere in this sport and it looks like I made the right decision," he said.

The boxer has competed in Sukma since 2010. He had never won any medal and confided that he had been considering retirement.

He wanted to win the Sukma gold medal so badly that he even represented Sarawak in muaythai at last year's Sukma in Kuala Lumpur (when boxing was not contested).

"This time, I finally did it and I want to thank everyone for helping to get this far in boxing. A special mention goes out to my coach Fred Mandagi, his assistants, my family and my friends," he said.

He continued that his win is also dedicated to his home state Sarawak.

In the 56kg final at the Perlis State Sports Complex, he defeated Penang's Jagadish Alongovan on points.

"My opponent was, as expected, tough and but I got the speed to match him. He was a good fighter but I guess I was the hungier boxer … who wanted the medal more," commented Aisamuddin.

Earlier, the Sarawak boxer had beaten Perak's Nur Aidi Nazrin Aliyah in the semi-finals and Selangor's Zulfadhli Jafar in the last eight.

Fred, who has been coaching him since he took up the sport, was obviously proud of his pupil and he hoped the gold medal would not be the end of Aisamuddin's journey.

He also wished that Aisamuddin's win would inspire and spur more young boxers from Sarawak in the future.

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