By Selangor Journal Team
SHAH ALAM, Aug 24 — The state contingent to the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Sarawak performed admirably, covering themselves in glory and taking third place overall in the biennial national multi-sport event.
History was made as Selangor's boys and girls broke several national records and by 10.45pm today, Sukma's last day, the state garnered 181 medals overall.
Of that number, 56 are gold medals, 64 silver medals, and 61 medals. Today alone saw Selangor rake in five gold, four silver, and 11 bronze medals in the arenas of badminton, chess, gymnastics, sailing, and table tennis.
Only the Federal Territories with 75 gold, 65 silver, and 72 bronze, as well as host Sarawak with 76 gold, 55 silver, and 70 bronze, surpassed the state in this edition of the Games.
Despite a slow start to Sukma 2024 before its official opening last Saturday (August 17), and falling short of five gold medals in reaching its target, the Abode of Sincerity can stand proud as its athletes also set new benchmarks for others to follow them in the future.
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Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah poses with state swimmer Andrew Goh Zheng Yeng at the Malaysian Games medal ceremony at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatics Centre, Kuching, Sarawak, on August 21, 2024. — Picture by HAFIZ OTHMAN/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Selangor swimmer Andrew Goh, whose peak performance in Sukma 2024 won him the coveted Sportsman title during its closing ceremony tonight, contributed five gold medals to the state.
In so doing, the 20-year-old set two national records in the 100m breaststroke event at 1:01.39s and 28.03s for the heats of the 50m breaststroke on on Monday (August 19).
Later during the final, he broke the SEA Games record of 27.56s held by Indonesia’s Felix Viktor Iberie in the 2023 edition, by clocking in 27.40s.
This being his second Games, Goh also smashed the Sukma record in the 200m breaststroke and contributed to the state's victories in the men’s 4x100m medley relay and the mixed 4x100m medley relay.
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Sprinter Nur Afrina Batrisyia Mohamad Rizal (left) with her gold medal won in the women's 200m final event of the 21st Malaysia Games, at Stadium Sarawak in Kuching, Sarawak, on August 20, 2024. — Picture by FITRI HAZIM HAZAM/MEDIA SELANGOR[/caption]
Similarly, sprinter Nur Afrina Batrisyia Mohamad Rizal became a double gold medallist and double record holder on Tuesday (August 20) by winning the 200m final at 23.89s, erasing the previous Games mark of 24.37s set by Perak’s Noor Eewan Syafiah Mohd Sabri in the 2016 edition at the same venue.
The 20-year-old snatched the 100m gold in 11.64s on Monday, eclipsing the 16-year-old Games mark of 11.82s set by Johor’s Siti Fatima Mohamad at the 2008 Sukma in Terengganu.
Other worthy mentions include the women's football team, which won its first-ever gold medal in their match against Sabah, and the men's futsal team which went up against hosts Sarawak, earning their first gold medal since the sport was inaugurated in Sukma during the 2014 edition in Perlis.
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The Selangor women's football team reacting after their gold medal match against Sabah during the 21st Malaysia Games, at Stadium Negeri in Kuching, Sarawak, on August 23, 2024. — Picture by HAFIZ OTHMAN/SELANGORKINI[/caption]
With Sukma 2024 having concluded, the state has excelled in many sporting events, including archery, aquatic sports, basketball, bowling, chess, cricket, decathlon, fencing, football, futsal, golf, gymnastics karate, lawn bowls, pencak silat, petanque, sailing, silambam, sprinting, swimming, table tennis, tenpin bowling, weightlifting, and wushu.
After Sarawak, Selangor is due to host the 22nd edition of the Games in 2026. At tonight's ceremony, Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin received the championship flag and torch from Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg, which was followed by a 'Joget Selangor' cultural performance.
The last time Selangor hosted the Games was in 1998. Not one to rest on its laurels, the state government is determined to prepare its young athletes for Sukma 2026 in the coming two years.
On Thursday (August 22), state executive councillor for youth, sports and entrepreneurship Mohd Najwan Halimi said Selangor’s athlete training and development programmes will be improved.
In the process, the athletes’ weaknesses and strengths will continue to be identified before development programmes are drawn up.
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Selangor men’s futsal player Zulkifli Abu Hassan (centre) in action during the match against Perak as part of the 2024 Malaysia Games at the Samarahan Indoor Stadium in Kuching, Sarawak, on August 16, 2024. — Picture by BERNAMA[/caption]
