SELANGOR: Sarawak’s athletes may be the ones chasing medals, but a 40-member cheer squad led by former Malaysia Games (SUKMA) hockey medallist, Malina Migon, is making sure they never feel alone in the fight.
Malina, 48, a staff member with the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), has brought together a group of enthusiastic supporters to travel to various venues across Selangor, cheering on Sarawak athletes in their respective events.
The former Sarawak hockey player, who won SUKMA gold in 1998 and silver in 2000, said the cheer squad was formed with one clear mission – to give athletes the extra motivation they need to give their best in pursuit of medals.
“We want the athletes to know that we are behind them and supporting them in their fight for medals. The cheering gives them more spirit to fight all out,” she said told reporters here at Stadium INSPEN.
Malina said her group comprises mainly youths, including Sarawakians studying in West Malaysia, while some supporters travelled from Kuching at their own expense to be part of the initiative.
She said the 40-member group is one of four Sarawak cheer squads deployed during the Games, bringing the total number of supporters to about 160.
The squads are divided according to areas, covering venues around Shah Alam, Klang and other parts of Selangor to ensure Sarawak athletes receive support regardless of their sporting discipline.
“We have four groups, with 40 people in each group. One group supports Muay Thai, while another two groups cover the men’s and women’s volleyball teams,” she said.
Despite the geographical spread, Malina said the supporters operate on standby mode, with their movements adjusted according to the competition schedule and Sarawak’s sporting needs each day.
She added that the group held a full-day practice session on Aug 16, learning and rehearsing about eight different songs to ensure their chants and melodies remained coordinated.
“Everyone had already received the lyrics in advance, so when we gathered for practice, they already knew the words and melody,” she said.
Malina also praised the discipline and commitment of her supporters, saying many were willing to rearrange their schedules and travel to different venues whenever called upon.
She hopes the cheer squad initiative can be continued and expanded at future Games, believing the presence of vocal supporters can make a meaningful difference to athletes.
“When the athletes see the cheer squad there, they become more excited and motivated to give everything for their medals,” she said.
