S’wak optimistic to emerge victorious in Sukma 2014

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KUCHING: A comprehensive and integrated approach is needed in developing high performance sports and eventually produce elite athletes for the State.

Datuk Lee Kim Shin

“The development of sports should not lie solely with the government, but also requires the active involvement of all stakeholders, such as sports associations, facility operators, private sector, parents and the athletes themselves,” Assistant Minister of Social Development and Urbanisation (Sports), Datuk Lee Kim Shin said at the Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) sitting yesterday.

As part of this comprehensive plan, the State Government has set up the Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC), whereby its primary role is to undertake an integrated development and management of sports and sports facilities in the state.

Lee added that to complement the establishment of the SSC, the Ministry of Social Development and Urbanisation (KPSU) has commissioned a 10-year Sports Development Master Plan Study, which is scheduled to be completed by end of 2010.

“After the conclusion of the Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) 2010 in Melaka, the Sarawak State Sports Council (MSNS) in collaboration with Sports Science Unit of UiTM, held a seminar attended by representatives from sports associations to conduct a post-mortem on the performance of the State contingent in the games,” disclosed Lee.

Lee added that the outcome of the seminar is the adoption of sixteen strategies, which will serve to improve the performance of the athletes and sports associations in preparation for the next sukma.

“In addition, KPSU through MSNS has issued questionnaires to all sports associations to obtain feedbacks for the purpose of assessing their capacity, capability, strengths and weaknesses with regards to their development programmes,” informed Lee.

All the associations concerned were also requested to submit their requirements in terms of coaches, equipment and facilities in preparation for the next Sukma.

With adequate preparation and strong commitment of all concerned, particularly the athletes themselves, KPSU is confident that the Sarawak state team will emerge victorious in Sukma 2014.