Sabah set 13-gold target at Sopma

Kota Kinabalu: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan has set a 13-gold target for the Sabah contingent to retain their overall title at the 19th National Deaf Games 2016 (Sopma) in Sarawak starting Sept 30 to Oct 7.The 59-member squad will compete in four events, namely badminton, 10-pin bowling, men's football and athletics.

"At the previous games in Melaka, we took home 10 golds, nine silvers and nine bronzes to take the overall title.

"This time with a 59 strong squad including team officials, we should set a higher target to win more gold medals from the events in order to retain our title," he said at the flag handing over ceremony at the Federal Sports Ministry Sport Complex in Putatan on Wednesday.

He added that the athletes must always strive to produce their best in the competition so that more will get to represent the country.

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"The Sopma Games is for us to identify and produce deaf athletes who have the potential to compete on the international stage.

"This is the spirit that we must have. We cannot merely aim to do well in national events but must aim for the bigger international stage, specifically the Asia Pacific Deaf Games and Deaflympics Games in Turkey next year."

He also disclosed that the ministry has proposed to the cabinet for approval on the increase of bonuses on medal winners for the deaf athletes.

However, it will only materialise in the next games and the medal winners will only get incentive of RM1,000 for each gold, RM300 for silver and RM200 for bronze.

Spencer Soo Kok Heng, who is to lead the contingent, also won praise from the Minister for getting sponsorship from the private sectors to partly finance their training programme and the trip to the games.

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"The Ministry has always been very supportive to the association but with limited funds, so credit must be given to Spencer for taking the initiative and sticking his neck out to get financial support from other sectors for the development of the athletes."

Meanwhile, a total of 700 athletes from 13 states will compete in the games organised by Sarawak Deaf Sports Association (SSDeaf) in collaboration with the Ministry of Welfare, Women and Community Development.

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