KOTA KINABALU: September 4, 2026 – A total of 154 PARA athletes from Sabah departed for Selangor yesterday to compete in the PARA SUKMA XXI Selangor 2026, with the state contingent targeting 66 gold medals.
The athletes departed via two flights from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), scheduled at 11.30am and 12.40pm respectively.
Sabah’s contingent will compete in 10 sports at the games, which run from September 5 to 10.
Eddyron, a chess player in the B2 and B3 categories, said his team underwent approximately two weeks of training at the Youth and Sports Department’s sports centre in preparation for the games.
He said the chess team is targeting two gold medals, with strategy, mental endurance and emotional control among their key strengths.
“I am 70 percent confident the team can win this time. I hope supporters from Sabah can cheer us on from afar,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sabah Table Tennis head coach Thien Teck Leong said the team’s preparation began three months ago, with a target of three gold medals.
“We have a target of three. But MSN (National Sports Council), we are targeting five. We need to find two more, from new and experienced players,” he said.
He estimated the team’s chances of achieving their target at around 90 percent, despite facing challenges with category changes for some athletes.
For athletics, coach Tony Sewan said the athletes’ preparation had been planned over two years through a specific programme for the games.
“We underwent a two-year programme for preparation. I think our preparation has been achieved, and we are ready to compete,” he said.
Tony estimated the team’s chances of hitting their medal target at between 90 and 95 percent, though the main challenge lies in facing opponents whose strengths are not yet fully known.
