KUCHING, July 31 — The 18th Malaysia Games (Sukma) which drew down its curtain tonight in a dazzling ceremony at Sarawak Stadium saw Malacca’s sensational sprinter Khairul Hafiz Jantan crowned sportsman and Terengganu archer Nur Aqilah Yusof best sportswoman.

The young runner set a new national record for 100m and broke four Sukma records.

He sliced off a good 0.12 second from the 10.30s record set by Watson Nyambek to create a new national record of 10.18s, besides breaking the games records for 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m events.

Best sportswoman Nur Aqilah Yusof with Khairul Hafiz.

Meanwhile Nur Aqilah Yusof, who clinched three gold and two bronze medals in this Sukma Games, also rewrote the national record of 328 points set by Mon Redee Sutxi in the women’s 70m recurve at the Sea Games in Vietnam in 2003 with 331 points, which was also a new Sukma record.

She also set another Sukma record in the women’s 60m recurve event.

The Selangor contingent emerged as the overall champion after amassing 59 gold, 73 silver and 63 bronze medals, making it the ninth overall Sukma title for the state.

The Selangor contingent won the overall champion title in 1988, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2013.

Curtains down on the 18th Sukma, with glittering performances at the Sarawak Stadium.

The entrance gates of Sarawak Stadium were opened for the closing ceremony as early as 5pm with people forming long queues to collect their tickets printed with lucky draw numbers.

Several top local artistes later took turns to entertain the spectators on a temporary stage at the VIP guests arrival hall.

Members of state contingents comprising almost 6,000 athletes and officers started entering the stadium at 8pm accompanied by fireworks.

The closing ceremony was graced by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Also present were Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem and Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

The next Sukma Games is scheduled to be held in 2018 in Perak. — Bernama