SUKMA: Selangor Secure 41 Gold, Eliza Shines On Day Five

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 20 (Bernama) -- Host Selangor have secured more than half of the 80 gold medals targeted in their bid to become overall champions of the 2026 Malaysia Games (SUKMA) after the fifth day of the biennial sporting event today.

Based on the overall medal tally as of 10 pm today, Selangor, the most successful contingent in SUKMA history with nine overall titles, strengthened their position at the top with 41 gold, 42 silver and 30 bronze medals, ahead of five-time champions Terengganu in second place.

Terengganu have collected 31 gold, 29 silver and 24 bronze medals, while Federal Territories complete the top three with 29 gold, 25 silver and 22 bronze.

Host swimmer Eliza Tan Ai Shen stole the spotlight today after becoming the first athlete to break a national record at this edition of the SUKMA.

Making the feat even more impressive, the 19-year-old broke the national record twice in a single day to win the women's 100-metre freestyle gold at the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre in Shah Alam.

Swimming in lane four, Eliza broke her own national record with a new time of 56.78 seconds, leaving Perak's Nadia Lim (57.67s) and Melaka's Yeow Lynna Yi Jing (58.2s) to settle for silver and bronze respectively.

Eliza had earlier erased Nadia's national record of 57.11s, set at the Asian Age Group Aquatics Championships in Bangkok last July, after clocking 57.03s in the heats.

Meanwhile, Federal Territories made history by winning their first-ever men's team badminton gold after defeating Penang 3-1, while Selangor successfully defended the women's team gold for the second consecutive edition after beating Penang 3-0 at the Setia City Convention Centre in Setia Alam.

Johor, meanwhile, continued their dominance in athletics for a third consecutive edition after the sport concluded at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Stadium in Serdang today, following the start of competition last Sunday.

The southern contingent took home nine gold, eight silver and five bronze medals, edging Terengganu in second place (7-3-3), while Federal Territories emerged as the third-best team (6-1-3).

The final day of athletics also saw Penang end a 28-year wait for the men's 4x400m relay gold, while setting a new SUKMA record with a time of 3 minutes 11.84 seconds, erasing Johor's previous record of 3:12.35 set at the last edition.

Selangor had to settle for silver in 3:13.52, while Kedah took bronze in 3:14.09.

-- BERNAMA