BRIGHT PROSPECTS: The state taekwondo exponents (top photo, from left) Shirley Kua, Low Kwong Yew, (bottom photo, from left) Marena Tee Zulariffin and Dayang Farhanah Abang Sazali show their medals after the taekwondo competition at the Sukma XV in Pahang in 2012.
KUCHING: Sarawak Taekwondo Association (PTNS) is recommending five of its top exponents to be shortlisted for the national squad bound for the coming SEA Games in Vietnam.
PTNS president Mohd Salleh Sani said that the five are Dayang Farhanah Abang Sazali for the flyweight category (46-49kg), Jenny Soh Fong Mee for welterweight (62-72kg), Marena Tee Zulariffin for middleweight (67-73kg), Shirley Kua Xiao Zie for heavyweight (above 72kg) and Low Kwong Yew for men’s welterweight (74-80kg).
According to Salleh, a key criteria for their selection was their achievements in the local and national scene.
“One of their best achievements was in last year’s Sukma held in Pahang when Sarawak dethroned Trengganu to emerge champion in taekwondo and brought home four golds, two silvers and two bronzes,” he said.
Dayang Farhanah and Shirley Kua won gold, Marena Tee took silver and Low Kwong Yew, the youngest at 16, clinched bronze.
The five are also expected to participate in the coming Borneo City Cup Invitational Taekwondo Competition organised by PTNS in August.
The event will serve as a good platform for the state exponents to gain exposure because over 200 competitors from East and West Kalimantan of Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, Philippines, Sabah and the Peninsula are expected to take part.