Ling (left) looks on as Padawan District deputy education officer Chong Choi Ling presents the medal and certificate to Boy’s U18 champion Clement Sim Kwong Zhi from Kuching at the recent MSSM Table Tennis Championship.
KUCHING: Promising table tennis players aged 12 and under stand a chance to represent Sarawak in the Yasaka International Invitational Table Tennis Championship in Bangkok, Thailand later this year.
Making the offer is CSL Table Tennis World Centre who will sponsor players for the Thai trip either in June or Sept.
“We are looking at getting the best U12 junior paddlers for the Sarawak team which will probably comprise six boys and two girls,” the centre chairman Ling Kiing Tasn said.
Ling, who is also Samarahan Division Table Tennis Association secretary, said CSL Centre will conduct a trial over two or three days to select the best players.
“We will be inviting every division to send five of their best players for the selection trial but we haven’t decided on the dates yet,” he said.
The divisional affiliates to the Table Tennis Association of Sarawak will be informed of the selection trial a month earlier.
CLS Centre, according to Ling, will sponsor the air tickets, transportation and hotel accommodation for the selected players.
He further observed that most of the juniors are sent overseas for exposure by their parents or private sponsorships.
“We have received confirmation from Yasaka Company in Thailand that Sarawak can field its own team.
“Previously, we have to join players from Semenanjung Malaysia to form the Malaysian team.”
“This is a very good chance for our budding juniors to gain valuable international exposure and getting them exposed internationally will greatly aid in their development,” he added.