Fadillah (centre) and Paruwadi (third, right) posing with organisers of the YB Datuk Haji Fadillah Haji Yusuf Sepak Takraw Championship yesterday.
KUCHING: Malaysia Sepak Takraw Association (PSM) vice president Datuk Paruwadi Musa was glad that tournament organisers in the state are alway trying their best to popularise the sport.
The latest effort to popularise the sport here is to organise an indoor sepak takraw tournament at a shopping complex.
“What organisers here in the state have done for the love of the sport is amazing. They even found a way to play it in shopping malls which I personally think is creative,” he praised.
Paruwadi and Works Minister Datuk Fadillah Yusof were at The Hills Shopping Mall yesterday to officiate the opening ceremony of a sepak takraw tournament.
Paruwadi also hoped that the tournament will attract more people here in the state, especially those from the non-Bumiputra community.
“I believe that there is still a lot of work needed to be done if we want to attract more interest among the non-Bumiputra community in the country. Maybe by showcasing this sport through this type of tournament (held at a shopping mall) could help a little bit,” he said.
Meanwhile, Fadillah in his speech also mentioned the need to popularise sepak takraw in the country.
This was due to the fact that countries such as China, Korea and even some countries in Europe are showing interest in the sport.
“Malaysia should do everything to make sure the sports is always the number one sport in the country if the people here still want to call the sport their own. This sport is our pride,” he commented.
He also thanked tournament organisers for naming the tournament after him (YB Datuk Haji Fadillah Haji Yusuf Sepak Takraw Championship).
The two-day tournament which was held annually since 2012 ends today.