DYNAMIC TRIO: Clement Thian, Fu Wen Jie (centre) and Elvic Bong (right) striking a pose after a training session.
KUCHING: Sarawak will be sending a bigger team to compete in the National Junior Wushu Championship (KPM) in Ipoh, Perak from April 19-23.
The team managed by Tan Joo Chua comprise nine boys and twelve girls exponents and they will be competing in the championship that is lining up more than 50 events.
However, the state team is still at a disadvantage as far as numbers of exponents is concerned as other teams will be sending a full-force of 30 members.
“We are looking at quality instead of quantity, so we are sending the best and potential exponents to the national junior meet”, said coach Ling Ung Hee.
According to Ling, who is also the Sarawak State Sports Council Centre of Excellence for Wushu, Kuching coach and Wushu, Lion and Dragon Dance Federation of Sarawak coach, this year fs contingent is bigger when compared to the 14-member team last year.
“We are not taking part in all the events especially the injury-prone san shou events and some of the dui lian events, h she revealed.
Ling, who declined to disclose any medals target, said she is hoping for a better showing from the state representatives.
“Our exponents are still facing a tough challenge in the championship because they face national juniors in almost all the events they compete in,” she added.
The stiffest competition is expected from Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Pulau Pinang and Kuala Lumpur.
Sarawak has only one national exponent in 13-year-old Elvic Bong Qian Zheng but he has been promoted to the Boys B category where there are many strong opponents from the national squad.
In last year fs KPM meet at the Cheras Badminton Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Bong captured the golds in chang quan and qiang shu, and a bronze in jian shu in Boys C category to help Sarawak finish fifth overall with five gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals.
The transition class student from SMK Kuching High has been entered for chang quan, jian shu, qiang shu and dui lian at the Ipoh meet.
The boys squad includes Sean Chai Wei Jea, Clement Thian Fung Seng, Nicholas Kho How Chun, Lee Cao Peng, Terence Ma Yung Foong, Enzo Scifo Idi and Bong Yun Pin.
Leading the girls challenge is last year fs double gold medallist Yong Arifah Khairul Kok, who is one of the three Bumiputra members of the state squad.
Other girls are Bong Sze Chan, Lee Ling, Jacelyn Chia Pei Shien, Chang Li Chian, Fu Wen Jie, Lee Hui Xian, Sharifah Farah Shahirah Shahab, Felicia Ma Hui Qi, Bong Yun En, Lim Chun Feng and Lai Yun Yi.
“Our main objective in sending the back-up athletes for Sukma 2014 and 2016 is for them to gain some exposure in national junior meet. We are seriously grooming them for future challenges. The state exponents has been training hard daily since early April, h said Ling.
Apart from skills training, the team members also undergo strenuous physical training to improve their stamina as glory beckons the state junior wushu exponents.
They will fly to Kuala Lumpur on Apr 19 and take a coach to Ipoh on the same day.
The championship is jointly organised by Wushu Federation of Malaysia and the Education Ministry of Malaysia (KPM).