KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is aiming to be in the top five positions of the upcoming 20th Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) in Kuala Lumpur next month.
State Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Angin said the state would send 466 athletes to participate in 31 sports.
He said the state was confident of clinching victory in aquatic, football and track and field events.
"Just like our participation in Sukma before, Sabah is targeting 40 golds and will be in the top five. Our best record was during the 19th Sukma in 2018 in Perak, where our athletes brought back 33 gold, 27 silver, and 46 bronze medals.
"We were ranked 6th among the 15 contingents," he said during a press conference.
Ellron added that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, athletes had been training hard since the last Sukma.
"I believe we are on the right track to create history in Sukma. I would like to congratulate Sabah Youth Council for maintaining the momentum of good training while having to adhere to strict standard operating procedures from 2019 until April this year."
Ellron said the state had allocated RM24.3 million for the Sukma preparation since July 2019.