Ellron (centre) with the three Sabah Para athletes who will compete in the XVI Tokyo Paralympics 2020 in Japan.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Ministry of Youth and Sports through the National Sport Council (MSN) has given their support to three Sabah Para athletes who have qualified for the XVI Tokyo Paralympics 2020 in Japan from August 25 to September 6.
Sabah Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Ellron Angin said careful planning has been made with cooperation from the National Sports Council in ensuring that the three athletes are were fully prepared for the coming games.
The three para athletes are swimmer Brenda Anallia Larry, 15, who will compete in the women’s 50 meter Backstroke S4 category; Jonathan Wong Kar Gee, 30, who will compete in the men’s F12 long jump event, and 46-year-old badminton player Didin Taresoh who will compete in the men’s SS6 singles event.
“Of course we are very proud of their achievements. They not only bring glory to Sabah, but also to Malaysia on the world stage.
“It is not easy to produce athletes like them, it requires strong support from all parties apart from perseverance, patience, determination and high discipline of the athletes themselves,” he said after presenting consolation to the three athletes at the Likas Stadium, here on Friday.
“A virtual discussion was held a few weeks ago involving officials from MSN, MSN Sabah, National Sports Institute, Sports Commissioner, association and coaches of the three athletes, to plan in detail their training preparations.
“Preparations for the Final Phase are currently going smoothly although faced with several constraints due to Covid-19, but as the minister I have instructed MSN Sabah to fully monitor the training and preparation of these three athletes every week,” said Ellron.
“We in the ministry wish for their success and to bring home medals for the country, and as promised, lucrative victory incentives await them.
“From the Malaysian Government, gold medalist will receive RM1 million with a monthly pension of RM5,000, silver medalist will receive RM300,000 with a monthly pension of RM3,000 while bronze medalist will receive RM100,000 with a monthly pension of RM1,000.
“The State Government will give RM500,000 to the gold medalist, RM150,000 to silver medalist while bronze medalist will receive RM50,000,” he said.
Present during the consolation presentation session were Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Sabah Andi Muhammad Suryady Haji Bandy, Permanent Secretary of Sabah Ministry of Youth and Sport Mohd Yusrie Abdullah, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Sabah Ministry of Youth and Sport Putera Jali, MSN Sabah Director Mohd Asneh Mohd Noor, and Sabah Sports and Recreation Association for People with Disabilities (PESRON) president Tan Hwa Koon.