SIBU: Sibu Division Billiards and Snooker Association (SDBSA) deputy president Mark Yeo called on Ministry of Social Development (KPS) to support the association’s efforts to improve the sport’s standard.
“Now that SBSSF had started the ball rolling, we hope that Ministry of Social Development will do something positive to complement each other efforts to promote the game. And in the long run, we will be able to see the brighter light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.
Yeo was referring to the recent announcement by SBSSF’s president Datuk John Sikie Tayai on the request of assistance for the purchase of new tables which will be placed at Kuching, Sibu and Miri.
The tables are also meant for students under 20 years old to conduct their training since they were not allowed to patronise snooker centres.
Sikie, who is the Assistant Minister of Local Government and Community Development and Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office, admitted that the standard of snooker in the state was lagging behind other states and urgent efforts were needed to promote the sport before it comes under the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
Yeo said SBSSF did not have much choice and the only way forward was to ensure that there was a ready supply of players from the grassroots once the seniors retired.
Currently, he said Sarawak do not have any snooker development programme to train the young players, unlike other sports such as squash, badminton, football or table tennis whereby a steady stream of young elite players continued to surface under their youth development programmes.
“Unfortunately, in snooker, it’s hard to come across a single young player who can be of titles credential, especially when it comes to national tournaments,” he said.
Yeo said SDBSA was willing to work together with SBSSF to promote the sport in the state and for a start, the association is organising the Executive 3 Sarawak Closed Snooker Championship in Sibu on Sept 19 – 22.
The event had attracted 57 players from throughout the state and SBSSF, on its part, should also conduct more tournaments to promote the sport among the younger players.