Women defy odds to finish third, men end Sevens challenge in quarters
For the freshest news, join The Borneo Post's Telegram Channel and The Borneo Post on Newswav.KUCHING: The Sarawak women’s team finished third in the U21 category of the just completed NAZA National Sevens Series in Ipoh, Perak which saw Sabah emerging as the champions and Selangor as the first runners-up.
Upon hearing this encouraging result, Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU) president Richard Song Swee Jin described it as “quite an achievement, we fared well out of the nine teams in the women’s category despite all odds.”
In congratulating the players, coaches and officials as well as the parents for their involvement, Song said the women’s team achievement was something to be proud of considering Sabah were ahead in its rugby development programme and for the last five years had 70 per cent national players in their squad.
“The men’s team entered the quarterfinals after a lapse of four years. They fought the giants and yet they reached the last eight and that is also quite an achievement.
“We are rebuilding the men’s team after four years of inactivity,” Song remarked.
Negeri Sembilan were the eventual champions of the men’s U21 category while Sabah did not send a team this time around.
Song expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan, the ministry’s permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee and Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO cum Sarawak State Sports Council director Dr Ong Kong Swee.
Karim also congratulated both teams for making such progress and advised them to train harder for the challenge in Sukma XIX in Perak this September.
“It looks like for the women’s team to achieve gold in Sukma is within target while it will be a bonus if the men’s team makes it to the semi-final or final,” said Ong.
