The players taking the championship oath.
KUCHING: Young players from across Malaysia have gathered here for the 28th Milo Malaysia Hopes Table Tennis Championship which began yesterday.
Hosted by Sarawak this year, the four-day tournament is organised by Table Tennis Association of Sarawak and Samarahan Division Table Tennis Association.
Boys and girls under-10 and under-13 from Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Sabah, Johor, Putrajaya, Kedah, Pahang, Melaka, Perak, Negeri Sembilan, Labuan and Sarawak are battling it out at Chung Hua Primary School No. 3.
Players, team managers, contingent leaders, coaches and parents were treated to an Official Opening Ceremony dinner at MBKS Community Hall here on Tuesday night.
Assistant Sports minister Datuk Lee Khim Shin, who represented chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem at the ceremony, emphasised that table tennis is not only a sport but played an important role in promoting and strengthening diplomacy ties between countries.
“Ping-pong diplomacy between Malaysia and China on May 31, 1974 had given a boost to our diplomatic and bilateral ties,” he said while encouraging the popular sport to be promoted in schools as well.
He also noted that table tennis in Malaysia has developed into a multi-racial game, with the top players in the country who are Bumiputeras.
Commenting on the tournament, he said, “We will indeed see a lot of new faces and we hope this championship will foster new friendship, unity and promote the goodwill spirit of 1Malaysia.”
Meanwhile, Table Tennis Association of Malaysia secretary-general Chan Fong Keong highlighted that this tournament aimed to unearth talents who will be selected to undergo training in Bukit Jalil Sports School.
“We have a group of judges who will be looking out for quality and talented players in the tournament.
“Successful candidates will be offered scholarship to go to the school with the aim to groom them into national players,” he said.
Table Tennis Association of Sarawak chairman Alvin Wong pointed out that Sarawak over the years has produced many national champions and Sukma champions in the sport.
He commended the state government for its support.
“Currently, we have two foreign coaches from China and two local coaches engaged by Sarawak Sports Council (MSN) to assist in our development and training programme.”
He added that one more coach from China will be coming and based in Miri.
Also present at the function were Sarawak Table Tennis Association president Michael Teo, deputy president Richard Wee, Temenggong Lu Kim Yong and Federation of Chinese Schools chairman Wong Tiong Hock.