KUCHING: The hard work is done. Now, it is all about making every lift count.
Sarawak’s weightlifting squad has eased off the heavy sessions and turned its attention to arriving on the platform in peak condition as the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2026 kicks off on Aug 15.
Head coach, Jonathan Patrick, said months of preparation have laid the foundation, with the final days dedicated to recovery, maintaining fitness and ensuring the athletes are mentally composed.
“Overall, I’m happy with the team’s readiness at this point. With only five days to go, our focus now is mainly on recovery, maintaining condition and keeping the athletes mentally focused.
“The preparation is done, now it’s time to stay calm and trust the process,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Jonathan said there is little to gain from pushing the athletes harder at this stage, with the emphasis instead on preserving their condition for competition.
“At this stage, we’re not trying to push them too hard anymore. We’re focusing more on recovery, keeping the intensity controlled, and making sure everyone stays healthy.
“The main goal now is to get them to SUKMA fresh, confident and ready to compete,” he said.
As the competition draws near, Jonathan wants his lifters to approach the platform with confidence rather than pressure.
“For me, the most important thing is for them to trust their preparation and stay focused.
“Once they step on the platform, just do what we’ve trained for and give their best. No overthinking, just lift with confidence,” he said.
Sarawak’s weightlifters will begin their SUKMA 2026 campaign at Dewan Seri Cempaka, Majlis Perbandaran Kajang (MPKJ), from Aug 16 to 20, where months of preparation will ultimately be measured in three lifts.
