RAUB, Sept 20 (Bernama) -- Pahang aims to win a record 10 gold medals at the 2024 Para Malaysia Games (Para SUKMA) in Sarawak from Sunday until Sept 28.
Pahang Communications and Multimedia, Youth, Sports and Non-Governmental Organisations Committee chairman Fadzli Mohamad Kamal said it has set this ambitious target despite facing handicaps in terms of sports facilities for the disabled.
According to him, Pahang's best performance so far is a nine-gold haul at the 2022 Para SUKMA in Kuala Lumpur.
"We acknowledge facing various challenges, such as a lack of sports facilities for persons with disabilities compared to other states, but this is not an excuse for us not to achieve it in this event," he told reporters after handing over the state flag to Pahang's contingent for Para SUKMA XXI at the Raub Rakan Muda Complex here last night.
Pahang is sending 104 representatives, including 56 athletes, to compete in nine sports - badminton, archery, swimming, chess, athletics, tenpin bowling, boccia, powerlifting and lawn bowls - in Para SUKMA XXI.
Fadzli said the Pahang government is also prepared to consider increasing the rewards for Pahang Para SUKMA gold medallists to be on par with the incentives given to recent Pahang SUKMA athletes.
Meanwhile, Pahang Para SUKMA chef de mission Khaizulnizam Mohd Zuldin said the 10-gold target is realistic, and he is ready to take on the challenge posed by the state government to break the previous record haul.
"Although we faced many shortcomings in the past, we still managed to produce national athletes in lawn bowls and archery.
"Nonetheless, we will certainly give our best," he said.
-- BERNAMA
