SIBU: Taekwondo exponents who excel at the state-wide Inter-School Poomsae and Taekwondo championship in Kuching from Aug 29 to 31 stand a chance to be selected for the coming 2016 Sarawak Sukma.
Sarawak Taekwondo Association (STA) deputy president Dato Lau Keung Chai said the championship would be used as a platform to gauge the standard and unearth new players for the Sarawak Sukma taekwondo team.
“Though 2016 is still two years away, we are making early preparation so that our players are fully equipped and will be able to rise on the occasion when it matters most,” he said.
Lau was speaking to reporters before handing over the colors to the Rejang Taekwondo Club
(RTC) for sending 20 players to take part in the inter-school tournament.
He reminded the exponents to showcase their best performance and true abilities so as to earn a call up for the state duties.
Lau said STA would initially pick three exponents from each category and the fighters would undergo a series of test and exposure aimed at polishing their skills.
He said they would also be sent for overseas stint if situation permit.
“However, the final list of players for the Sarawak Sukma taekwondo team will only be ready one month before the 2016 Sukma,” he added.
In the recent Perlis Sukma, Sarawak returned with four gold medals, two silver and bronze medals each to top the table standing in the taekwondo event.
Lau said all the four gold medallists at the Perlis Sukma would be over the age limit by 2016 and that was why they need to mould new players to take over from the seniors.
He also mentioned that there was no guarantee that those who took part in the Perlis Sukma would be picked based on their past records.
“All the fighters have to fight their way for qualification. There is no automatic berth and only the best players will be selected for the Sarawak Sukma.
We want true fighters who are disciplined and committed to help the state win medals,” he said.
Lau said Sarawak could not afford to let slip the chance of topping the medal standing for the taekwondo event at the Sarawak Sukma.
‘We are the host in 2016 and we must show to the rest of the states that we are capable of retaining the overall title.”