KUALA LUMPUR – The Federal Territory contingent is poised to uphold its reputation as a formidable force in the upcoming Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma), targeting an impressive haul of 60 gold medals.
Federal Territory Sports Council director Nik Ahmad Zahiruddin Nik Saleh outlined that achieving this feat would secure the contingent’s position among the top five overall.
With a total of 1000 athletes registered for the event, the Federal Territory contingent anticipates undergoing a rigorous screening process in July to finalise the official roster for Sarawak.
The Federal Territory clinched the overall champion title at Sukma in 2014, and they finished third in the 2022 edition in Kuala Lumpur with 55 gold medals.
“Our preparations have been progressing smoothly. We’ve set dual targets, one for the associations and another for the Federal Territory Council itself.
“As a cautious approach, we’ve set a target of 50 to 60 gold medals for Sukma Sarawak, contingent upon our athletes’ performances.
“While our aim is to secure a top-five finish, we’re also eyeing a potential top-three spot, as hinted by the federal territory minister,” said Nik Ahmad.
While the Federal Territory plans to compete in all 37 events, certain categories may lack female representation due to a shortage of athletes.
Additionally, some sports representatives travelling to Sarawak will bear their own expenses. However, the Federal Territory Council will offer reimbursement for gold medalists.
“We have registered all 37 events, but there are events where we may only send male teams and not female teams due to various reasons, such as a lack of athletes or the athletes not meeting the standards we set for participating in Sukma Sarawak.
“In terms of incentives, it is still unclear, but we do have incentives for our outstanding athletes. However, I still need to discuss this with the top management at the Federal Territories Department,” he added. – May 2, 2024