MELAKA, Aug 23 (Bernama) -- Melaka is optimistic about achieving its target of 20 gold medals at the Selangor 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA), having secured 15 gold medals as of 10 am today on the eighth day of the Games.
Melaka SUKMA contingent chief, who is also the state Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) Committee chairman Datuk VP Shanmugam, said several unexpected gold medals, including the women’s team squash event and walker Tan Li Ren, had gone a long way to help the state achieve its target.
“In pencak silat, the Melaka squad also dominated the event, securing four gold, three silver and one bronze medal.
“We have two more days to ensure that the target of 20 gold medals is achieved, as several events have yet to reach the final stage, including wushu, table tennis and sepak raga bulatan,” he said when met by reporters after presenting prizes in the girls’ Under-12 category at the Hang Jebat Traditional Archery Championship for Malaysian Schools at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Ayer Keroh here today.
He also said that Melaka only competed in 12 wushu categories in Selangor SUKMA compared with 18 categories previously in Sarawak.
“This is a loss for Melaka because at the Sarawak edition, the wushu squad alone contributed 11 gold medals, whereas this time only 12 categories are being contested at SUKMA Selangor,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hang Jebat Traditional Archery Championship for Malaysian Schools programme director Khairul Anwar Kasim said 320 participants from more than 40 schools across eight states took part in the two-day competition, which began today.
He said the competition involved girls’ and boys’ Under-12 primary school categories, as well as girls’ and boys’ Under-15 and Under-17 secondary school categories.
“This traditional archery championship is being held for the first time in collaboration with the Education Department and the Education Ministry to nurture new talent in traditional archery.
“Based on a survey conducted in Melaka alone, there are about 400 traditional archers, indicating significant potential to further develop and strengthen the sport with cooperation from various parties,” he said.
-- BERNAMA