KUALA LUMPUR, 15 July – Sabah wants to win as many medals in the individual events at the 20th edition of Sukma (Malaysia Games) which have been postponed to next March due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
The east Malaysian state, however, is upset that there will be no team events in the Johor Sukma 2020 now rescheduled to be held in March 6-14 next year. The biennial games were earlier scheduled for July 11-19, 2021.Sabah Tennis Association, Johnson Koh is surprised when tennis – one of the most popular sports in the world – is not getting due recognition by the Youth and Sports Ministry despite several appeals from many of the teams.
Tennis is a popular sport in Sabah – a known powerhouse in the sport – and the East Malaysians are gunning for medals in the individual events.“The medals can be of any color but we are determined to win as many. Despite the Sukma postponed to next year, we have not let up our training. The players picked for Sukma Johor have been training diligently, ” said Johnson who will lead the Sabah tennis team.
The players are:
Boys:
Ryan Chee Shao Yang, Darius Wong Yui Qian, Xerxes Wilson Lim Wei, Harish John Shailendra Dunil Manoharan, Gao Euno bin Dares, Mohd Nooh bin Lasalama, and Bonaventure Billy Ballay.
Girls :
Nurshaneem Shamsuddin, Jashnavissri a/p Uigneswaran, Kenwyn Chan Kai Wei, Kyra Vamsikrish, Nurul Afiqah Batrisyia Azisa and Sabrena Eniola Obafemi David Onasanya.
The official coaches are Tito Latoja and Shamsuddin Mustamin.
There are two training venues in Kota Kinabalu – the Likas Tennis courts and Sutera Harbour Resort tennis courts under Tito Latoja and Shamsuddin Mustamin.
Other district players are monitored by Tito Latoja on their individual training via apps reporting.
When centralized training is required these players will report to Tito in Kota Kinabalu at a later time.
Johnson paid a visit to have a first-hand look at the players training at Likas tennis courts under MSN appointed coach Shamsuddin Mustamin. He was accompanied by STA honorary treasurer Tony Wong.
Shamsuddin gave a report on the players’ training performance and is satisfied with the on-going training progress.
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