KUCHING (June 24): The Sarawak women’s team reached another historic milestone when they clinched third place in the inaugural Women’s 15-a-side competition of the KRS-MSNS League at Padang Astaka in Selangor last Saturday.

The Sarawak team captained by Sharon Sim Lili outplayed KL Tigers 31-10 in the playoff after they lost 5-29 to ATM in the semi-final.

Sarawak were beaten 29-5 by ATM in the opening match of the five-team league but bounced back to overwhelm UPNM Barbarian 35-5 for their first ever league win before falling 0-52 to Cobra and beating KL Tigers 38-7 to reach the semi-finals.

Coach Shahradi Libiki Iskandar Ridhuan regarded the result as a big achievement considering that the team secured third placing in their debut in a 15-a-side tournament.

“The ladies gave it their all, faced strong teams and made big sacrifices for Sarawak, our beloved Ibu Pertiwi. Honestly, I’ve got nothing much to say. Just really proud of the ladies.

“This isn’t just a win. It’s a stepping stone and benchmark for something even greater for Sarawak Rugby. Hopefully, this opens more doors for success and opportunity in the future for our Sarawak ladies. May this inspire more young women to step up and be part of the journey,” he said.

SRU secretary Abdul Rashid Salleh said the campaign proved that Sarawak Rugby had the potential to be one of the powerhouses in Malaysia, especially in the women’s category.

“With more exposure and experience gained from these high calibre tournaments, we will be able to see an even more competitive squad and ultimately, seeing more Sarawak ladies knocking on the door of the national side.

“With Malaysia to host the inaugural SEARF (South East Asia Rugby Federation) 15s Championship with the Philippines and Singapore, that dream can become a reality,” he added.

Abdul Rashid Salleh KRS-MSNS League Shahradi Libiki Iskandar Ridhuan Sharon Sim Lili