ALOR STAR: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor today paid his tribute to the parents of Kedah-born athletes for their unsung contribution to nurturing world-class sporting talents.
Sanusi said the athletes, whom he referred to as Kedah Fighters, would not have succeeded without the sound support from their parents and close family members.
"Parents play a pivotal role in the success of our Kedah Fighters. Without their sacrifice and commitment to send their children for training, and buy the sports gear, we will not be able to produce these outstanding talents.
"The coaches and sports officers may help to train them but it will only work with the dedication of the athletes' parents," Sanusi said in a press conference after presenting RM60,000 cash rewards to 24 national athletes from Kedah who won medals in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games and 2023 Cambodia Sea Games organised by the Kedah State Sports Council at Wisma Darul Aman here today.
Present was state Youth and Sports Committee chairman Muhammad Radhi Mat Din.
The three Commonwealth athletes who received the rewards for winning medals were Pearly Tan (badminton); Muhammad Aznil Bidin (weight lifting), and Aifa Azman (squash).
The gold medallist received RM5,000 cash incentive followed by RM3,000 (silver) and RM2,000 (bronze).
The remaining 21 recipients were medallists who represented the country in the Cambodia SEA Games last year.
They received RM3,000 cash reward for winning a gold medal, followed by RM2,000 (silver medal) and RM1,000 (bronze medal).
The Kedah-born athletes who received the rewards represented the country in sailing, silat, women's hockey, taekwondo, badminton, ping pong, karate, weight lifting, cricket and e-sports.