Johor improve by leaps and bounds to be overall champs for first time

WHAT a massive improvement and achievement!

Johor showed their prowess by becoming the Malaysia Games (Sukma) overall champions for the first time with a medal haul of 77-52-43.

And as an icing on the cake, their rower Mohd Fakhrullah Mohd Rumaize and swimmer Tan Rou Xin were named best Sportsman and Sportswoman respectively as the curtain came down on the 20th Games with the closing ceremony yesterday.

Fakhrullah, 21, was in awesome form as he delivered nine golds in the canoe events and broke two national records in the K2500m (1:43.045) and K21000m (3:35.500).

Rou Xin, just 16, splashed to six golds, one silver and a bronze.

At the last edition in Perak four years ago, Johor finished ninth with a haul of 29-34-37. Their previous best was a runners-up spot when they hosted the Games in 1992.

Terengganu, winners in 2018, took second spot with 64-49-56 while Federal Territories came in third with 55-68-64.

It was a rather disappointing outing for Selangor, a nine-time winner, as they managed only 31 golds to be placed fifth.

Sarawak and Sabah deserved special mention as their athletes did well to ensure they finished fourth and sixth respectively.