KOTA KINABALU: The badminton contingent from the Sabah Sports Council (MSS) achieved remarkable success by securing one gold medal, four silver medals, and two bronze medals at the Malaysian School Sports Council (MSSN) Badminton Championship held in Ipoh, Perak from September 13 to 17.
The rising star from Sepanggar, Saidatul Saadiah Binti Muhammad, who studies at Bukit Jalil Sports School, emerged as the hero for the Sabah team after defeating her fellow state player Jola Lim Zi Yu with scores of 21-19, 21-17 in the girls’ under-18 singles final.
At just 17 years old, Saidatul Saadiah has shown significant improvement since joining Bukit Jalil Sports School and is now seen as a promising talent for the future of badminton in the country.
Also excelling at the MSSM badminton championship was Muhammad Nur Azhar Bin Zunaide, who won a silver medal in the boys’ under-18 singles event, along with the pair of Muhammad Nur Azhar Bin Zunaide and Hymns Isaiah Shim in the boys’ under-18 doubles, and the duo of Lin Yao Rong and Lim Ke Xuan in the mixed doubles.
Chua Jing Xuan contributed a bronze medal in the girls’ under-15 singles event, while Hymns Isaiah Shim partnered with Saidatul Saadiah Binti Muhammad to complete Sabah’s outstanding achievements by clinching a bronze medal in the mixed doubles event.
This impressive performance placed Sabah in fourth overall at the MSSM championship.
Meanwhile, the MSS Sabah badminton team manager, Joe Gary JR Martin, expressed satisfaction with the achievements of the MSS Sabah badminton contingent.
“We hope this (achievement) will inspire the MSS Sabah players to train harder, ultimately leading to an overall championship victory in the future,” he said.
To appreciate that success, Tuan Datu Asrah bin Datok Ambas, the Chief Assistant Director of Talent Development, Student Development Sector, Sabah State Education Department, later presented incentives to the winners from Sabah at the Ipoh Badminton Arena.
Datu Asrah expressed his appreciation to the MSS Sabah badminton contingent, including the team manager, players, and coaches, who successfully contributed to enhancing the image of MSS Sabah in the badminton arena.
