PUTRAJAYA – The fastest times set in 13 categories of the canoeing event at the 20th Malaysia Games (Sukma) have been recognised as new national records, said Malaysian Canoe Association (Masca) president Datuk Michael Wong.
He confirmed this to deny allegations that the records would not stand.
“We have discussed with the delegate chiefs and tournament director and we also held an online meeting with the Asian Canoe Confederation yesterday for the records to be taken into account.
“Previously, there were doubts whether they were national records or best times, but today we can confirm that they are national marks,” he told a media conference at the Putrajaya Water Sports Complex here today.
Of the 13 records, eight were set in the women’s category and five in the men’s event.
Michael also announced that Masca had nominated Johor’s Mohd Fakhrullah Mohd Rumaize and Terengganu’s Syahida Asyiqin Rusli for the 20th Sukma Sportsman and Sportswoman awards respectively.
He said that the achievements of Fakhrullah (two national records, seven gold medals) and Syahida (four national records, four gold medals) deserved to be given proper recognition.
Meanwhile, in today’s competition, Johor captured all three gold medals in the traditional boat race 200m (eight paddlers) men’s, women’s, and mixed team categories.
In the men’s event, the southern state clocked 54.850 seconds to take the gold medal while Penang (56.252s) and Federal Territories (56.273s) ended up with silver and bronze respectively.
In the women’s category, Johor captured gold in one minute 01.034s while the Federal Territories (1:02.461s) took silver and Terengganu (1:04.752s) the bronze.
Johor then made it three out of three by clinching the mixed gold in 57.723s, followed by Terengganu (58.553s) and the Federal Territories (59.04s). – Bernama, September 23, 2022
