KUCHING – Twenty-nine of the 30 sports initially at risk of being dropped from Sukma 2024 have now been confirmed, said Sarawak Deputy Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu.
Gerald, who is also the chef de mission of the Sarawak contingent, said that based on the Sukma Special Technical Committee meeting yesterday, only the sepak takraw women’s doubles event had not yet reached the minimum participation of six states.
“We have received approval and participation from other states, but the women’s doubles team in sepak takraw has only five states participating, which does not meet the minimum requirement.
“However, with five states already confirming participation, we need just one more. We will bring this matter to the Sukma 2024 Special Technical Committee meeting on July 18,” he told reporters after officiating the Sarawak Gold Hunter Camp Sukma 2024 programme, here, today.
Gerald added that in the meeting, which will be chaired by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh in Kuala Lumpur, they would appeal not to drop the sepak takraw women’s doubles event if it still did not meet the minimum participation requirement.
“We will appeal, because some states have already purchased flight tickets and so on… our team is also ready, so this (cancellation of the event) is not good for the development of national sports. We can accept it even if we only get five states to participate, as there are not many days left,” he said.
A total of 37 sports will be contested, involving 488 events, consisting of 236 men’s events, 217 women’s events and 35 mixed events.
Sukma 2024, scheduled to be held from August 17 to 24, will involve nine divisions: Kuching, Samarahan, Serian, Sri Aman, Betong, Sibu, Mukah, Bintulu and Miri.
Sukma, which was introduced in 1986, has been organised in Sarawak twice, in 1990 and 2016. – July 14, 2024