DOUBLE GOLD MEDALLIST JENNYLA SEEKS REDEMPTION AT PARA SUKMA 2024 AFTER FIVE-YEAR BREAK

From Nurul Izzati Mansor

KUCHING, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- Tailor Jennyla Kueh is on a mission to mark her presence at the Para SUKMA 2024 held in Sarawak after missing out on two previous Para SUKMA games.

The Sarawak athlete hopes to turn back the clock in her hunt for gold medals in discus, javelin and shot put at the bi-annual games, which kicks off tomorrow.

The 35-year-old athlete said she was aware that the presence of young athletes in the Para Sukma 2024 would give her a run for her money in trying to repeat her feat of bagging two gold medals in the 2018 edition of the games in Perak.

Though she hasn't participated in athletics championships after taking a break for almost five years to work as a tailor in Kuala Lumpur, it has not dampened the spirit of the Bau, Sarawak-born athlete.

Instead, she approached a private trainer to coach her near her home in the federal capital to reshape her skills in a bid to win gold medals in her homeland, Bumi Kenyalang.

"I began training with a private trainer since March. The trainer has prepared a program to reshape my skills because the Para SUKMA athletes are part-time athletes who have careers and need to divide their time between work and training.

"Even though I won gold medal(s) (in 2018), I feel like I'm starting from scratch. It's been a long break, but I'll give my best performance and go all out," a determined Jennyla told Bernama here today.

She expects Perlis athletes to be her most formidable opponents as she seeks to repeat her golden haul in the games.  

Jennyla will compete in the F56-57 category (physical disability) in the discus event on Monday, the javelin on Tuesday and the shot put on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Sarawak throwing coach Chang Chai Soon said he was optimistic that the squad would be able to haul in 11 gold medals from 20 athletes who are participating in the games.

"It's just that Sabah will put up a big fight against the Sarawak team. Sabah was a strong team in the last edition, but we've started training early in the hope that we can overcome them," he said.

-- BERNAMA