25 elite, back-up athletes attend wushu camp

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WE ARE FAMILY: Participants at the motivation-cum-training camp pose with Ting (centre) and (from eighth right) Wong, WFS secretary William Kong, Ling, Chong and WFS treasurer Jackson Ma.

KUCHING: Sarawak’s elite and Sukma back-up wushu athletes are now better prepared for their challenge in Sukma XVII and Sukma 2016 after attending a motivation-cum-training camp at Sematan Palm Beach Resort from Nov 11-13.

Twenty-five exponents and three coaches attended the three-day event which included a motivation workshop conducted by sports psychologist Chong Siew Kian from National Sports Institute’s Sarawak Satellite Centre and wushu training under Ling Ung Hee, Wong Hua Yiing and Lau Hui Wui.

Accompanying the group was Sarawak State Sports Council gym instructor Donny Tay, a former Sukma wushu gold medallist.

Camp leader James Ting, who is WFS deputy president, said yesterday that 29 exponents were chosen to attend the but four were absent as they had to sit for their examinations.

“We want to build up the mental toughness of our exponents so that they can handle the pressure during the Sukma competition,” he said.

According to him, the majority of the participants were new and it was important to expose them early to mental toughness training.

He stressed that mental toughness is very vital in high level competitions such as Sukma and athletes must be able to perform under pressure.

“We are not only looking at preparing for next year’s Sukma, but also looking at preparing the back-up athletes for Sukma 2016,” said Ting.

The camp also involved the participants in games and exercises to promote teamwork and bonding.

“In wushu, all exponents, officials and coaches are a big family and we want to enforce that sense of belonging,”he added.

Besides mental and physical training, the participants were constantly reminded to adhere to wushu’s “10 Commandments” and strict discipline.

“We want exponents who are strongly committed to training, possess a good attitude and high discipline,” said Ting who added that WFS will not compromise on indiscipline among the exponents.

He revealed that a member of the Sukma XVII shadow team, who won two gold medals at the National Wushu Championships in Kuala Lumpur this year, was dropped from the squad due to her poor attitude and discipline.

“To me, no matter how good you are but you do not have a good attitude and discipline, the gold medal you win is meaningless and that does not display the true spirit of sportsmanship in you,” said Ting.

In another development, Ting said the elite and Sukma back-up exponents are now undergoing their training at the new training centre at Kota Sentosa Sports Centre along Jalan Stakan.

“We should be finalising the squad by December and I would to remind the aspiring Sukma XVII exponents to train hard to earn their place in the state squad,” he said.

WFS will also be sending a few potential Sukma XVII medal prospects for a training stint in China probably in January or February next year.

The overseas training stint, aimed at giving the exponents valuable exposure, is also part of the preparations for the next Sukma in Perlis in May next year.