KUCHING: The Sarawak women's bowling team made history by winning the gold medal in the women's four-pin event on the third day of the Malaysian Deaf Games (SOPMA) XXII 2025 held at Megalanes E-Mart, Batu Kawa, on Sunday.

The team composed of Nurlyanna Arnezza Suzalee, Nurul Farhanna Wahab, Aminah Abdul Rajak and Sia Chew Ing defeated the Federal Territory team who took home the silver medal, while the Sabah team won bronze.

In the men's four-pin category, the Federal Territory emerged champions through the strong pairing of Liew Boon Ann, Chua Hock Seng, Mohamad Haziq Danish Rozainy and Syabil-Azam Syamsul-Azam, followed by hosts Sarawak who took home silver, and Selangor who finished in third place.

Sarawak's success continued in the women's All Events event when Sia Chew Ing added another gold medal for the state.

The silver and bronze medals were won by Sabah athletes, Masrumi Juri Azhar and Irene L. Gubud, respectively.

Meanwhile, for the men's All Events category, the Federal Territory dominated the podium with Syabil-Azam Syamsul-Azam winning gold and Mohamad Haziq Danish Rozainy taking home silver, while Sarawak's representative, Agan Ballang Kapong, earned bronze.

The prize-giving ceremony was officiated by the President of the Malaysian Deaf Sports Association (MSDeaf), Dr. Ong Shin Ruenn, together with the President of the Sarawak Deaf Sports Association (SSDeaf), Ko Ming Liang, and the Head of the Sabah Contingent, Soo Kok Heng.

For the record, SOPMA XXII 2025 brought together a total of 610 deaf athletes from all over the country with five sports events being contested, namely athletics, badminton, futsal, tenpin bowling and orienteering, all of which took place around Kuching and Samarahan.

This biennial event, which was first introduced in 1985, sees Sarawak as the host for this year's edition. -UKASnews