Sarawak Reinforces Status As Para Sports Powerhouse, Wins 176 Medals At National Games
KUCHING: Sarawak continues to consolidate its position as the nation’s para sports powerhouse after emerging as the overall champion of the Special Olympics Malaysia 6th National Games Sarawak 2026 with a haul of 176 medals.
Sarawak Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah said the achievement reflects the effectiveness of the state government’s inclusive empowerment efforts in providing greater participation opportunities and elevating the potential of athletes with disabilities to higher levels.
According to her, the Games, held in Bintulu from 24 to 26 April, brought together 778 participants from 11 states and the Federal Territories, featuring eight sporting events including athletics, swimming, bocce and five-a-side football.
“The Sarawak contingent was crowned overall champion with a total of 176 medals comprising 56 gold, 68 silver and 52 bronze medals, reflecting the strength of talent and continued support for para sports development in the state,” she said.
She said this during her ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting on Tuesday.
She added that the organisation of the Games not only provided para athletes the opportunity to compete in a healthy environment, but also helped boost their confidence and dignity within society.
In a related development, the Healthy Athletes programme was also carried out throughout the competition involving 391 athletes with more than 2,321 health screenings conducted, including examinations by doctors and healthcare specialists.
Commenting further, she said the achievements of Sarawak para athletes at the international level have further reinforced the state’s reputation as a Para Sports Powerhouse, with 31 athletes from Sarawak representing the country at the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Korat, Thailand.
“They contributed 13 gold, 14 silver and 10 bronze medals, bringing pride to both the nation and the state on the international stage,” she said.
In this regard, she expressed appreciation to the Sarawak Premier for the RM2 million allocation for the organisation of the Games, as well as incentives amounting to RM143,000 for 19 Sarawak para athletes who won medals.
According to her, the state government's continuous support through the provision of competition platforms, incentives and development programmes serves as a key catalyst in empowering the persons with disabilities (PWD) community and ensuring they continue to excel in the field of sports. -UKASnews
