KUCHING: Fresh off their national triumph, Sarawak’s Under-21 girls are setting their sights on a bigger prize, with the Sarawak Volleyball Association (SAVA) targeting gold at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA).
Sarawak emerged champions at the Malaysia National U21 Volleyball Championship 2026 held at N9 Arena in Negeri Sembilan from Apr 9 to 12, capping a strong campaign with a 3-2 win over Selangor in the final.
The team prevailed 23-25, 25-15, 23-25, 27-25, 21-19 in a tightly contested match.
Coach Stephanie Law said the victory, while significant, is only the beginning of a larger goal.
“SAVA is very proud of the girls for winning the national championship. This victory is meaningful, but for us, it is only the beginning.
“Our ultimate target remains clear—the SUKMA gold medal. This championship shows that we are on the right path, but there is still a higher level we aim to reach,” she told Sarawak Tribune when contacted recently.
Stephanie highlighted the team’s noticeable growth in mentality following a training camp in Japan last month, pointing to improved discipline, focus and resilience under pressure as key factors behind their success.
“The girls have shown significant improvement, especially in their mentality after our training camp in Japan last March. They are now more disciplined, more focused, and more resilient under pressure,” she added.
Despite their recent success, the squad has no plans to slow down, with preparations already being ramped up in anticipation of SUKMA in August.
“After this tournament, the girls will not slow down. They will continue to train harder and smarter, refine our gameplay, and prepare ourselves to meet again in August stronger and better,” said Stephanie.
The championship-winning squad also reflected Sarawak’s wide talent pool, with players drawn from across the state—four from Sibu, three from Meradong, two each from Miri and Mukah, and one each from Lundu and Sarikei.
Sarawak’s dominance was further highlighted in the individual awards, with Joan Ling named Best Opposite Spiker, Yong Hui Wen securing Best Middle Blocker honours, Ava Wong Jin Yi recognised as Best Setter, and Nikki Yew Shu Qing crowned Most Valuable Player. Angela Tang was also honoured as Best Coach in the girls’ category.
In the boys’ division, Sarawak players also made their mark, with Timothy Lim Yii Jie earning Best Outside Spiker, Ley Yee Wen named Best Middle Blocker, and Frankie Su Leong Chiong taking Best Receiver.
Sarawak will now turn their focus towards sustaining their progress and translating national success into SUKMA glory.
