Edward (left) and Audray pose with Vasantaro during training in this file photo.
SIBU (July 7): Edward Adau Perit certainly knows how to juggle sports and academic studies. The SMK Bintulu student scored a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.00 for the 2020 Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM). Of late he is focusing on doing Sarawak proud in the blue riband event at next year’s Johor Sukma.
“Nothing is going to be easy and, hopefully, I can at least win a medal for the state,” the 20-year-old sprinter said.
Edward is currently working part-time as he aspires for a government scholarship to pursue his dream to go overseas for tertiary studies.
“I have been working hard for the past two years as I really wanted to get good results in order to make my family proud because I believe only education can change our life,” he told The Borneo Post.
“Though I did not really expect to get 4.00 CGPA after encountering all the problems and difficulties brought by this Covid-19 pandemic, the online studies, the MCO and so many other obstacles, I am truly happy that I have made it,” he added.
His coach Vasantarao Appalasamy believes Sarawak’s sprint duo of Edward and 17-year-old Audray Macshaquille Hilary Jugah “can spring some surprises” in Johor next year. He spoke of the “interesting rivalry” between the two as “something good for Sarawak.”
The two athletes have actually been teammates before while representing Sarawak at the MSSM Championships as early as 2016. Audray, who went to Terengganu Sports School for his secondary education, has a personal best of 10.78sec in the 100m while Edward’s best so far is 10.90 recorded at the Sarawak Games (Suksar) in 2019.
Edward started training under Vasantarao when he was in Primary 5 in SK Orang Kaya Mohamad, Bintulu. He continued to train under him in SMK Bintulu until Vasantaro was transferred to the Terengganu Sports School in 2019.
“Since then, I had been sending him programmes to do on his own and he still managed to represent Sarawak and go to the national level and ranked 5th in the age group in 2019,” the coach said and revealed that he monitors Edward’s training and performance, all through online video.
However, he conceded that the current MCO has seriously affected the training which is reduced mostly to fitness and conditioning. Edward is making amends.
“I may have lost my fitness during the past months due to the MCO and also due to my STPM but now I have resumed training and I hope to come back stronger,” he assured.
Whether on the track or even beyond it the coach wants what’s best for his charge.
“Edward comes from a very poor family and he certainly needs help from the government to pursue his dream to further his studies overseas,” he said.
“My sincere hope is for the young lad to get the state scholarship to help him realize his dreams to study overseas.”
But not before the youngster delivers his swansong at the 2021 Johor Sukma.