Lau: Sports bodies needs more support

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SIBU: Voluntary sport bodies are still getting very limited financial support from the government despite the fact that the authority had now registered the associations under the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

HERE IS THE BALL: Lau (left) serves the ball to officiate the championship while Goh and President Cup Championship tournament officials look on.

Temenggong Vincent Lau Lee Ming said most voluntary sport bodies had not seen the differences since they registered their associations under the Youth and Sports Ministry instead of the Registrar of Societies. “We hope given a little more time, the situation will be different and for the better,” he added.

Lau was speaking at the launch of the Sibu Division Lawn Tennis President Cup Championship held at the Bukit Lima Tennis court yesterday morning. A total of eight teams are taking part in the three-day championship organised by Sibu Division Lawn Tennis Association (SDLTA).

The teams included three from Kuching, namely PTBS, Tanjong Manis A and Tanjong Manis B, Bintulu team, Sarikei Tiger team and three teams from Sibu namely SDLTA, SRC and JKDN.

As an NGO (Non Governmental Organisation), Lau said it was understandable that the various voluntary sport bodies had to depend on public donations to fund the association’s operational and running expenses when staging events and competitions.

He was aware that the lack of financial support could be a huge constraint that prevented the sport bodies from carrying out certain activities, especially in terms of providing systematic training to potential players.

“As a result, the potential players would be prevented from excelling nationally or even internationally.”

Nevertheless, Lau commended SDLTA and under the capable leadership of Vincent Goh Chung Siong for the hardwork and commitment to promote the game.

“SDLTA’s committee had in the past many years done much to promote the popularity and standard of lawn tennis for Sarawak in general and Sibu in particularly.”

On the championship, Lau was it was an opportunity for the players to showcase their skills and challenge each other for the title. “This should provide a good opportunity for the lawn tennis players from throughout Sarawak to challenge each other on the court and perhaps to learn from each other which will help to improve the overall player’s standard.”