Borneo Cup International Martial Arts tournament draws 18 teams

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SIBU: Eighteen teams, including two from Macau and one from Indonesia, will take part in the 5th Borneo Cup International Martial Arts Tournament at the Sibu Trade and Exposition Centre here from July 13 to 15.

Organising chairman Yung Dak Looh said the tournament would be divided into the “Sanda” (kickboxing plus grappling techniques) and the traditional Wushu Weapons and Forms/Patterns categories.

“In all, we will have about 200 participants. The Filipino team cannot make it this time as most of its members are preparing or sitting for their examinations.

Last year, we had teams from the United States and China as well,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Yung, who is the chief instructor of the Sibu Martial Arts (Quan Shu) Association, the main organiser, said the highlight would be the Malaysia Youth Sanda Challenge on July 14.

“Defending champion Ling Ming Xi will face his challenger and compatriot Song Pak Kian, the Perak youth champion.

“We will have renowned Malaysian grandmaster Lee Boon Chen, a 9th Dan Black belt exponent in the Chen style of Tai Chi Chuan, to give a tutorial on the Sanda art to beginners on the afternoon of first day of the tournament,” he said.

He will be assisted by national exponent Chin Kin Thong, one of the head judges.

Sanda, according to Yung, is now widely practised worldwide and there is the possibility of it becoming an Olympic event.

He said State Minister of Local Government and Community Development Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh would open the tournament on July 14 while community leader Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming, would close it the following day. — Bernama