Volleyball stadium due by end of the year

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MUCH ANTICIPATION: Sarawak Volleyball Association President Temenggong Vincent Lau (fourth right) together with (from second left) Chi, Moh, (from sixth left) Ting, Tiong, Ang, Ngieng and Hii witnessing the topping-off ceremony for Sibu Prudential Volleyball Association Stadium at Rejang Park.

MUCH ANTICIPATION: Sarawak Volleyball Association President Temenggong Vincent Lau (fourth right) together with (from second left) Chi, Moh, (from sixth left) Ting, Tiong, Ang, Ngieng and Hii witnessing the topping-off ceremony for Sibu Prudential Volleyball Association Stadium at Rejang Park.

SIBU: Big volleyball names from several Asian countries are keen to come here to participate in mouth-watering volleyball tournaments once the much-awaited Sibu Prudential Volleyball Association Stadium at Rejang Park is completed at the end of this year.

Sibu Volleyball Association (SVA) President Dr William Ting disclosed that they have received enquiries from countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea who were eager to send players here for competitions.

“Everything is still in the early stage and, mark my words, when the stadium is fully completed, volleyball fans here will be in for a rare treat and a great chance to watch volleyball tournaments of international calibre,” he said after witnessing the topping-off
of the stadium yesterday morning.

Among those at the function were President of Sarawak Volleyball Association Temenggong Vincent Lau and his deputy Dr Gregory Hii, SMC Chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King and his deputy Daniel Ngieng, and SVA chairman Moh Ung Ming.

Representatives from Prudential who fly in from Kuala Lumpur to attend the ceremony included Prudential Director of Real Estate Services Danny Ang and Prudential Assistant Director of Agencies, Sarawak Region, Chi Poh Yung.

Apart from hosting tournaments, Ting said the stadium could also be used as a major training ground for local volleyball enthusiasts to hone their spiking skills.

“Sarawak is reputed for producing volleyball champions and we need to reciprocate that by offering them bigger matches and getting bigger players to come here to showcase their skills.”

On the stadium, Ting said construction was almost completed with the workers putting on the finishing touches with the remaining scope of work concentrated in the administrative side. When fully completed, the 4-storey building will be the only volleyball stadium of its kind in the country.

The fully integrated state-of-the-art facilities will comprise an administrative block, a gym, a canteen and the main courts, and will accommodate 3,000 to 5,000 people.

He added that SVA top leadership have been working tirelessly round the clock looking for funds and the venue for the stadium.

Fortunately, he said Prudential Assurance Malaysia Bhd (PAM) came into the picture when it pledged a contribution of RM3 million towards the cost of the stadium.

The initial estimated cost of the stadium was RM6 million but with the interior decoration and other landscaping, Ting said it could easily reach up to RM10 million.

“We are fortunate that we have the generous donors and contributors who are always willing to lend their help towards the construction cost, and that adds weight to our hope to complete the stadium in time to host the big matches,” he said.

Ting also hoped that the completion of the stadium would provide a catalyst to further help improve the standard here.

“We hope to rule supreme, not only in the local scene but perhaps, one day, in the international arena.”