KUCHING: Clement Usang, the Armed Forces coach on loan to help prepare the State Sukma squad, was among the medal winners at the recent National Judo Championships.

Clement, 30, from Miri, won a silver medal in the 81kg category. He was encouraged by State coach K. Thevaraj to take part to raise his level which would be useful when training his students.

“I encourage Clement, a former national athlete, to participate. The experience will be good for him and his Sukma trainees. He’s still young at 30,” Thevaraj said.

Sarawak which sent 12 athletes — mostly new faces — won three silvers and one bronze at the meet.

Gary MacClay Patrick, a two-time -66kg national champion and competing for the first time in the -73kg category, won a silver medal while the other two silver medallists were newcomers James Thomas (-55kg) and Mohd Madzihi (-100kg).

Thevaraj said he was satisfied with the result.

Meanwhile, the State Sukma squad will be leaving for Besut, Terengganu, where the competition will be held on June 4.

Thevaraj said the spirit of the judokas was high and he did not want to put extra pressure on them to deliver.

There will only be eight categories in Sukma. In the 2004 Games, Sarawak won two gold, three silver and three bronze medals.