Sports associations urged to hold high level competitions

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KUCHING: Assistant Sports Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin on Thursday threw a challenge to local sports associations to organise higher level competitions.

He said they should at least try to organise one national or international event in Sarawak annually.

“Try to bring in at least one or more international events like what the Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) has been doing over the years,” he said at the welcoming and fellowship dinner for the Asia-Oceania Pre-Qualifying events for World Junior Team (Boys/Girls), Junior Fed Cup and Junior Davis Cup at a local hotel.

Lee, also Assistant Minister of Communications, said by organising national and international competitions, the sports associations concerned would not only give their athletes the opportunity to compete at a higher level, gain good exposure but also help to project state’s good image as hosts. He commended SLTA for its commitment to accept the challenge in organising the 3-in-1 events consecutively which is a tall order.

“The State government through the Ministry of Social Development will continue to render assistance from time to time to support tennis development in Sarawak,” he said.

“We hope that you will continue on with the good job and I hope other sports associations will be able to emulate SLTA in bringing in international events to Kuching,” Lee enthused.

The assistant minister was also pleased that many young and aspiring boys and girls are representing the 19 teams from 12 countries in the pre-qualifying events. “Tennis is picking up very fast in the West and Central Asia regions and the efforts by Asian Tennis Federation and the International Tennis Federation in continuing to promote and develop tennis worldwide is bearing fruit,” said Lee.

Also present at the dinner were SLTA president Dato Patrick Liew and his committee members, ITF representative Suresh Menon and ITF referee Hany El Khafief.