SRI AMAN: The Sarawak Games (SUKSAR) IV 2026 is buzzing with excitement across multiple sports, with 10-year-old weightlifter, Macxqlynson Ayden Paul Backlin, stealing the spotlight with his rapid progress.
Despite his young age, Macxqlynson from the Western Zone is making impressive strides in weightlifting under the guidance of Coach Wyncles Kiring Tom.
Macxqlynson developed an interest in weightlifting at the age of nine and has been training seriously for the past 10 months.
Coach Wyncles told Sarawak Tribune that he spotted Macxqlynson’s potential early, noting his physique and natural flexibility.
At SUKSAR IV, held at Dewan Panglima Rentap in Betong, the young lifter’s progress is evident.
“Regarding his performance during SUKSAR, we can see a clear improvement compared to previous competitions.
“He participated in the 2025 Sarawak weightlifting center competition, where he lifted 21kg in the snatch and 30kg in the clean and jerk. Now, he is lifting 28kg in the snatch and 42kg in the clean and jerk,” Coach Wyncles said.
The young lifter’s journey is still long ahead, but he is already inspiring many in the local weightlifting community and highlights the growing talent emerging from Sarawak’s grassroots sports programmes.
Meanwhile, basketball has drawn considerable excitement with fiercely contested matches, showcasing the competitive spirit and skill across the zones. Central Zone edged Western Zone by a single point, 41-40, in a tense basketball encounter on the second day of SUKSAR IV 2026.
Boxing has also attracted significant attention, with Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu, present, was impressed by bouts that underscored the rising standards of the sport in Sarawak and the strong mental and physical preparedness of its athletes.
Among the medallists in the lightweight 60kg category were Wayne Kho Hae Kai from the Central Zone, who took gold; Davis Beckham Mit of the Southern Zone, who won silver; and Oliver Ngu Tian Lok (Northern Zone) and Jackson Daniel Dom (Western Zone), who both secured bronze medals.
Petanque also gained considerable attention at SUKSAR IV, drawing enthusiastic participation from all zones.
The precision and strategy displayed by the players kept spectators engaged throughout the competition.
