Selangor Sukma: New stars set to emerge in nation's premier games

KUALA LUMPUR: As the Glasgow Commonwealth Games conclude, the spotlight shifts to the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor, set to begin on Saturday. Over 5,000 athletes will vie for 468 gold medals across 37 sports during the 10-day biennial competition, continuing its role in identifying future national talents. Host Selangor aims for an overall victory, targeting at least 80 gold medals, while welcoming a 1,029-strong contingent made up of 838 athletes and 191 officials.

Four-time champions Sarawak seek to defend their title with a goal of 75 golds, while the Federal Territories aim for a podium finish with a target of 180 medals.

Promising athletes to watch include Johor sprinter Danish Iftikhar Roslee, who claimed bronze at last year's Thailand SEA Games; Terengganu's Armin Zahryl Abd Latif, who entered the competition as a top contender after securing a fourth-place finish at the Asian Under-23 Athletics Championships and winning the Singapore Open with a national record time of 13.63 seconds; Sarawak's Ethan Damien Goh and Selangor's Aiman Syahin Sulaiman, both bowling prospects who recently won a mixed team gold at the World Youth Bowling Championships in Kuching; Selangor swimmer Goh Li Hen, who secured a men's 200m butterfly gold at the 2023 Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago; and Penang track cyclist Nur Umairah Qhaisara Zulfikha Razak, who aims to make an impact after reaching third place in the world junior women's sprint rankings.