Selangor offers RM10k for gold

Selangor government is offering up to RM10,000 to state athletes who win gold at the 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma 2024) from Aug 17 to 24 in Sarawak.

The state is also eyeing Selangor’s 10th overall win at the Games.

“We are offering an incentive of RM10,000 for an individual athlete who wins a gold medal,” said Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.

“For gold medal winners in team sports, RM5,000 per person will be given to teams with fewer than five persons and RM3,000 per person for teams with more than five persons.”

The reward for individual gold medal winners marks a nearly three-fold increase compared to the RM3,500 incentive for Sukma 2022 and two-fold increase compared to the RM5,000 reward for Sukma 2016.

Selangor has won Sukma nine times, with its last overall title win in 2016. The state finished in fourth place in 2022.

Amirudin’s announcement was greeted by rousing cheers from state athletes at the flag-handover ceremony, prior to heading to Sukma 2024.

“The incentive was revised in line with the changing times and given that the current scheme to reward Selangor athletes has been around for nearly 10 years,” the Mentri Besar said.

“Selangor has the potential to win in all events. While the favoured sports are swimming, cycling, athletics and archery, there is also potential for medals in judo, karate and silat,” he said.

“Selangor will be sending a 1,050-strong contingent comprising 704 athletes, 212 officials and 133 secretariat members,” said Selangor youth, sports and entrepreneurship committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi.

“We are targeting a haul of 61 gold medals and will be competing in all 37 sports.”

He also acknowledged the support provided by sports patrons (bapa angkat sukan) for the Selangor contingent.

These sports patrons, comprising local authorities and state subsidiaries, play a role in facilitating and easing the burden of sports associations in preparation for Sukma.

The Games are held every two years.

Mohd Najwan is leading Selangor’s Sukma 2024 contingent, with Deputy State Secretary (Management) Datuk Mohd Yazid Sairi as his deputy.

The flag ceremony, organised by the Selangor Sports Council (MSNS), was held at Dewan Raja Muda Musa in Section 7, Shah Alam. Also present was MSNS executive director Mohamad Nizam Marjugi.

The 21st Sukma features 37 sports and 484 events.

It is scheduled to take place across nine divisions, including Bintulu, Kuching, Miri and Sibu.