NATIONAL POWERLIFTING COACH JAMIL SPOTS YOUNG TALENT AT PARA SUKMA

By Rozlin Rusharmeen Rosmin

KUCHING, Sept 28 (Bernama) -- National powerlifting coach Jamil Adam came to the 2024 Malaysia Para Games (Para SUKMA), which end today, with a dual mission: to lead the Sarawak powerlifting squad and also scout for talented youngsters to be roped into the national team.

The Sarawak-born coach admitted that this edition of the Para SUKMA was among the significant platforms to evaluate the performances of powerlifters from every state.

"We saw several young athletes with the potential to go far and who can be roped into the national programme, including the likes of Sarawak's Brownson John Gustin and Johannes Gabriel Chew.

"Perak's Muhammad Akmal Danish Mohamad Supi and Terengganu's Muhammad Shazmin Syamsuar are the others… they are among those we will assess in detail to be absorbed into the national programme for early exposure to higher-level competitions,” he told Bernama.

He said they would continue to constantly monitor the performances of those who shone at Para SUKMA 2024, especially at the National Circuit Championships next February.

Jamil, who has been handling the national powerlifting squad since 2014, said he is more focused on looking for young powerlifting talent to ensure they have sufficient time to groom them to represent the country at international competitions, like the SEA Games and Paralympics.

"The age group we are targeting is the completion of a one-round cycle of the SEA Games or the Paralympics, so it's quite difficult for those who are older… although I mentioned some names, not all won gold at the Para SUKMA but there is time to hone their skills as they are still in their teens.

"At the same time, I want to find an athlete in the heavyweight category at the national circuit,” he said.

Jamil also noted that the Para SUKMA was a platform for the national team management to look at the need to continue including national para-athletes in the National Sports Council (NSC) training programmes. 

Commenting on the Sarawak team's success in powerlifting at the biennial Games, Jamil said he was satisfied with the performance of his charges.

“There is no secret recipe to Sarawak’s team success, it is all about the athletes’ performance... that is why we choose our athletes to go to for national-level competitions. This way we can monitor whether they can go far or just (remain at) that level… their progress and discipline are among the keys to their success,” he said.

The presence of 2024 Paris Paralympic gold medallist Bonnie Bunyau Gustin at the competition venue to spur the Sarawak powerlifters also proved to be an inspiration for the younger athletes to follow in his footsteps and make a name for themselves on the world stage.

Jamil is responsible for triggering the development of powerlifting in Sarawak by producing aces like Bonnie and Jong Yee Khie, the silver medallist at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. 

Sarawak, who sent 17 powerlifters to the Para SUKMA 2024, including three women, topped the medal tally with 17 medals - 13 golds, one silver and three bronzes - when the sport concluded at the Youth and Sports Complex on Friday (Sept 27).

-- BERNAMA