GLORIOUS FOUR: Lau (third left) posing with four winners in one of the events.
SIBU: There is a need for government agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to work closely together to produce more outstanding athletes nationwide.
Community leader Temenggong Vincent Lau noted that many countries with less resources have done better than Malaysia in the sporting arena.
“Our nation’s overall achievements in sports have not been that outstanding.
“We have government agencies and NGOs making the effort to promote sports but the fact remains that the private sector and NGOs cannot do much due to limited resources,” he said at the closing of the Sarawak Junior and Senior Taekwondo (MSN-MILO-TM-WTF) championship at SMK Methodist here yesterday.
Lau said because of limited resources, voluntary sporting bodies could only limit themselves to raise awareness of sport and games.
Lau added that there ought to be closer co-operation and interaction between government agencies and voluntary sporting bodies.
“The authority should also put greater trust in NGOs by providing all kinds of support, including giving them ample financial grants.”
The two-day championship organised by Sarawak Taekwondo Association (STA/WTF) and Rejang Taekwondo Club attracted 261 participants from throughout the state.
Lau said the sizeable number of participants spoke well of STA in promoting this form of martial art.
He hoped that Taekwondo champions would be groomed to excel at the regional and international levels.