Sabah boxers emerge runners-up
Published on: Wednesday, November 08, 2023
By: GL Oh
Orlando (in white) and other officials pose with the team upon their arrival at the airport on Sunday.
Kota Kinabalu: Sabah finished second overall in the Malaysia Cup Boxing Championship that ended in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan last Saturday.
They took home the RM2,000 cash prize after winning two golds, two silvers and four bronzes in the six-day competition.
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They were also the only team that prevented eventual winners ATM from taking all the titles at stake.
The champions topped the medal tally with 10 golds, one silver and one bronze while in third place were Terengganu with three silvers and four bronzes.
The two gold medals won by Sabah came from Ariffin Medin (51kg), who was also named the best boxer and Khairul Azim Nasser (54kg).
The silvers were delivered by Deanver Randel Jailon (92kg) and Mohd Ameero Haiqal Ilhimi while the bronze medallists were Joel Evekly Jain (54kg), Vallent Piere Peter (80kg), Joel Nickolson (67kg) and Jack Phoon Yan Jie (75kg).
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Sabah Boxing Association president Datuk Orlando Harumal congratulated the 12-member team led by manager Fabian Peter accompanied by chief coach Antonio Battistesa, coaches Datu Segan Adis and Mohd Rayyan Rizqin.
He praised the boxers for their excellent performances throughout the competition to beat 12 other teams to finish as runners-up.
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He added that it was not an easy task for them to fight from the preliminary rounds to the finals, especially against tough opponents from ATM.
Meanwhile, Orlando said the State body will remain focused on the preparation of their Malaysian Games (Sukma) squad and the development of State youth in boxing.
He also revealed that they will be organising the President Cup Championship in December and a Borneo Cup competition is also on the cards scheduled next year.
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