James Ting
Ishak Chin Abdullah
Sunny Si
KUCHING: News that organisers are considering wushu, squash, bowling and softball for inclusion in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games has caused a buzz among leaders of state sports associations concerned.
Wushu Federation of Sarawak (WFS) deputy president James Ting said WFS and Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) welcomed the news with open arms.
“It will improve Malaysia’s chances of winning more medals in the Olympics as we have a proven track record of winning medals in the World Wushu Championships.
“However, I personally feel that the existing rules and regulations for wushu competition needs to be reviewed and reformed for this subjective sport which is prone to controversies especially in terms of judging,” he pointed out.
“Great. That has been our dream for 30 years,” was the response from Amateur Tenpin Bowling Association of Sarawak (Abas) president Sunny Si.
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia, Sarawak Branch chairman Robert Lau Hui Yew said the association remains cautiously optimistic.
“The World Squash Federation has been working very hard and lobbying for the last two years to get squash in and the change in the rules has resulted in opening up the way for more sports to get into Olympics,” he said.
Lau believed that the chances for squash may be enhanced as Japan itself has produced top junior players.
“One of them is Satomi who trains with the Penang Squash Academy and studies in Penang. She has won the Penang U17 singles title,” he said.
To Sarawak Softball Association president Ishak Chin Abdullah, the news was like music to the ears.
“It shows that the sport is actively played all over the world and gaining popularity.
“We hope that the Sarawak State Sports Council recognises this and help our association to develop and promote softball in Sarawak,” he said.
Tokyo organisers had announced on Monday that baseball-softball, bowling, karate, roller sports, sport climbing, squash, surfing and wushu are the finalists under consideration for 2020. Officials of the eight sports will make presentations in Tokyo in early August. The organisers will the make recommendations to the International Olympic Committee (IOC). A final decision is expected in Aug 2016.
In 2013, baseball-softball along with squash lost out in their bid for the 2016 Games when the IOC voted to keep wrestling in the Olympic roster.
Sports which applied for inclusion in 2020 but failed to make the finalist are air sports, bowls, bridge, chess, dance sport, floorball, flying disc, football, korfball, netball, orienteering, polo, racquetball, sumo, tug of war, underwater sports and waterski and wakeboard.