The Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya served as the official venue for the Sarawak 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA). It witnessed the Terengganu diving squad making history by securing medals for the first time since their debut at SUKMA in 2018 in Perak. Photo Credit – ASIANA/Kamarul Akhir

The Terengganu aquatics contingent at the Sarawak 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) has etched its own place in history by securing medals for the first time in the team’s participation since SUKMA Perak 2018. After a grueling five-day medal hunt at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Center in Petra Jaya, Terengganu emerged with a remarkable achievement.

In the diving events, Terengganu secured third place overall and ninth place in the overall aquatics events, placing them among the top 10 states participating in the 21st edition of SUKMA. This milestone marks a new era for the East Coast contingent.

The Terengganu aquatic contingent squad concluded the diving events at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA Sarawak 2024) in an overall third place, securing a total of 5 medals—2 silver and 3 bronze. Credit – https://rs.sukmasarawak2024.my

Divers Ikmal Abror Ibrahim (left) and Muhammad Haris Mohd Rezal (second from left) of Terengganu clinched the silver medal in the synchronized 3-meter springboard diving event at the Sarawak 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA). The historic achievement took place on August 21, 2024, at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya. This marks the first time Terengganu has secured a medal since their debut at SUKMA Perak 2018. Photo credit: Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS).

The diving events yielded a total of five medals. Uzlifatil Jannah Ashraf contributed two silver medals in the women’s 1-meter springboard event, while Ikmal Abror Ibrahim and Muhammad Haris Mohd Rezal secured silver in the synchronized men’s 3-meter springboard.

Additionally, Ilyssa Ixora Imran and Uzlifatil Jannah Ashraf clinched three bronze medals in the women’s synchronized 10-meter platform, and Muhammad Haziq Muizzudin Mohd Asri and Uzlifatil Jannah Ashraf earned bronze in the mixed synchronized 3-meter springboard. Muhammad Haris Mohd Rezal also secured bronze in the men’s 1-meter springboard.

The Terengganu aquatic contingent squad successfully secured the 9th position out of 15 competing teams in all aquatic disciplines at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA Sarawak 2024). Credit – https://rs.sukmasarawak2024.my

Terengganu also fielded two swimmers in the swimming events. Abdul Karim Jaafar Azhar, aged 16 (born on October 15, 2008), successfully qualified for the finals in the 100m butterfly and 100m backstroke. Meanwhile, female swimmer E Mun Hayley, now 18 (born on May 29, 2006), advanced to the finals in the 800m freestyle and 1500m freestyle.

Although neither swimmer reached the podium, their commitment to training and representing Terengganu in the country’s premier sporting event deserves recognition.

It’s worth noting that Terengganu lacks comprehensive aquatic training facilities, leading some swimmers to train and study outside the state, with some even attending schools as far away as Sabah.

Aquatics, a medal-rich discipline, offers substantial opportunities for podium finishes. SUKMA Sarawak 2024 features a total of 53 medals up for grabs in aquatic events, making it one of the most competitive sports categories. The dominance of certain states in the overall medal tally is evident, with at least 45 medals at stake for each color.

The Terengganu aquatic contingent squad is sending a total of 8 athlete entries, with 6 of them participating in diving events and 2 athletes competing in swimming events for the Malaysia Games (SUKMA Sarawak 2024) at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Center in Petra Jaya. Credit – https://rs.sukmasarawak2024.my

Since 2017, Terengganu’s primary focus has been unearthing local talent to compete in aquatic venues at SUKMA. Pioneers like Ikmal Abror Ibrahim, Mohammad Haziq Muizuddin Mohd Asri, and Nur Aiman Daniel Azman were among the first five divers identified during talent scouting in 2017. While two of them withdrew from the training program, Mohammad Haziq Muizuddin Mohd Asri, then just 8 years old, stood out as one of the youngest qualifiers in the preparatory diving squad.

In 2018, the first batch of divers embarked on an extensive five-month training journey in China, fully funded by the Terengganu State Sports Council (MSNT), the main sponsor.

Additionally, young talents like Muhammad Arfa Zikry Muhammad and Muhammad Aeriel Riezqi Abdullah, both aged 11, were identified in 2023, further strengthening Terengganu’s diving prospects.