Gold target looking out of reach
Published on: Friday, September 23, 2022
By: GL Oh
Nevern (left) with his two gold medals and Evan wants to make the national archery squad.
Kuala Lumpur: Sabah’s prospect of meeting their 40-gold target in the 20th Malaysian Games (Sukma) looks slim after only three more golds were collected on Thursday putting the contingent’s gold tally at 26 as at press time with just two days of competition left.The first gold of the day came from archer Evan Rich Chong Qi Wei who captured the Olympic round recurve men’s title by whitewashing Naveen Fikri Zinuldin of Penang 6-0 in the final.
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Nevern Netaneel Marcellinus continued his winning form by adding the second in ten-pin bowling with a two-set 247-217, 257-247 win over Federal Territories’ Muhd Hazim Alihanafiah in the men’s masters final. It was Nevern’s second gold of the Games after winning the men’s singles on Sunday.
The jubilant sepak takraw women’s trio winners celebrate with their teammates.
The women’s sepak takraw trio of Siti Hadinavilla Jumidil, Nazira Hani Islandar and Nadillatul Rosmahani Saidin with Fisydiana Farodona and Siti Hadifitri Navilla Junidil as reserves then made it three with an easy straight set 21-9, 21-15 win over their Perak opponents in the final.
Coach Daut Amba when contacted said he was over the moon with the girls’ success in making a clean sweep in the women’s events following their earlier triumph in the doubles.
Another gold had been expected earlier in the women’s rugby event but the girls were instead ousted by Kedah 5-12 in the semi-final.ADVERTISEMENT
Only one silver medal was won by the contingent on Thursday and that came from Matronati Mel Motusin in the women’s judo +70kg category after losing 0-1 to her Terengganu opponent Nur Ain Hafiezza.
Sabah ended the day with six bronze medals. Two from aquatic sports with diver Mohd Anilrian Normatrud Abdullah delivering the first in the men’s platform individual followed by the women’s 4x200-metre freestyle relay team of Chu Xin Ying, Lovell Wong, Thien Oi Yee and Loo Yie Bing.
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The beach volley team also contributed a bronze through Farrah Ninni Muhd Johan and Zuliza Pilihan in the women’s team event and one from boxer Mohd Fairul Yee Abdullah in the men’s featherweight (54-57kg) category.
The girls rugby team then bounced back from their semi-final disappointment by defeating Johor in the play-off to take the bronze while the women’s recurve team of Faith Fedora Shiu Xiao Miin, Kaithlyn Hannah Sernam, Nurul Maisarah secured third place after beating the Kelantan team 5-1 in the decider.
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