SHAH ALAM, The Selangor Silambam team are almost fully prepared and now just waiting for the opportunity to compete for the five gold medals at stake in the 21st Malaysia Games (SUKMA) in Sarawak next month.

Head coach V. Uthaya Kumar expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to secure gold, citing the presence of experienced athletes who will lead Selangor’s challenge in this sport, which is making its debut at the biennial Games.

“Our training has entered an intensive phase, with athletes undergoing five training sessions a week. For the last three weeks, we will be pushing hard.

“In terms of preparation, we are 95 per cent ready; the remaining 5 per cent is just waiting for the final moments before showcasing our performance to bring glory to Selangor,” he told Bernama during a team training session today.

He added that the Selangor team will compete in the events of Thanithiramai, Kuthu Varisai, Poruthal (armed combat), and both rhythmic performances with and without weapons.

Uthaya Kumar said tha
t Sarawak are one of the teams identified as a strong competitor that could challenge his team’s chances of winning medals in the competition.

He noted that after eight months of training together, he is confident that his athletes can compete against any team but also reminded them not to underestimate their opponents when they are on the field.

He hopes that the squad will deliver their best performances and fight for the five gold medals on offer and help achieve the overall target of winning 61 gold medals.

Earlier, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced that five additional sports, including Silambam, will be contested at this year’s SUKMA following agreements made during the SUKMA High Committee meeting.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency