SIBU: Sarawak Global Taekwon-Do Association, Sibu (SGTA) grabbed four gold and three bronze medals in the Fourth State-Borneo Invitation Polytechnic Taekwondo Tournament in Sabah from May 10 to May 11.

“We did better than last year when we only managed one gold and one silver medal,” said team manager and chief coach Abang Ahmad Zaini Abang Fauzan.

A total of 11 teams took part.

Leo Adan contributed one gold medal in the open category while Kharunisa Usun, Norizzah Marzuki and Syafiq Afandi added two more in the under-17 category. Norizzah, Rebecca Dukisin and Raden Hidayat also won three bronze medals in the under-17 category.

SGTA emerged the first runner-up in the under-17 category behind the Keningau team which scooped five gold and three silver medals.

The third spot went to SMK Tebobon with two gold, two silver and four bronze medals.

In the open category, Polytechnic Kota Kinabalu was crowned champion with seven gold, seven silver and 13 bronze medals followed by Keningau with six gold, two silver and three bronze medals.

General Operations Force (GOF) took third place with three gold, three silver and four bronze medals.

On the team’s achievements, Zaini said: “Overall, I’m pleased with their performance and discipline. To be frank, we did not anticipate to win four gold medals as our target was to get to the third round.

“Furthermore, the six SGTA exponents in the under-17 category are youths who still lack experience and exposure.

“But through dedication and hard work, they were able to read their opponents’ movements. Overall, I’m very pleased with their fighting spirit despite lacking in experience”

Zaini said the aim was to give the younger members more exposure to build up their experience.

According to him, those who performed well will be absorbed into the senior team for the coming national tournament in Selangor from August 28 to August 30.