The state boxers undergoing training at the Sports Authority of Thailand Complex in Bangkok.
KUCHING: The exposure training stints in Thailand, Indonesia and Philippines may not pack enough punch for the Sarawak Sukma XVIII boxing shadow team, hence London could be next.
Sarawak Boxing Association (SABA) president Datuk Rahman Lariwoo said the association is planning to send them to London, Great Britain, for a three-week training just before Sukma XVIII (July 22-31).
Rahman said SABA will be approaching low cost carrier AirAsia after the Chinese New Year for a sponsorship to fly the boxers to London.
“We shall be requesting cooperation from AirAsia to fly our boxers to London to undergo a three-month training stint there,” he said.
“I will also be discussing with the Malaysian Boxing Association president Tan Sir Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, who is the chairman of Felda Group Ventures, to allow our boxers stay at the Felda-owned hotel in London during their training stint,” he added.
Rahman said Canadian coach David Treharne, who is now training the state boxers in Thailand, will arrange for boxers in London to spar with the Sarawak boxers as well as help out in training.
“SABA is truly committed to ensuring that we achieve the three-gold target set for Sukma XVIII,” said Rahman. The state shadow team have been training in Bangkok since Jan 20 and will end on March 14.
After Thailand, the state boxers will continue to train in Batam Island in Indonesia and at the Malaysia Boxing Centre at National Sports Council Keramat, Kuala Lumpur.
The team comprise Ayu Azizzy Azmi, Syafiq Hazziman Abdullah Jefri, Mohd Elbi Azly Asram, Alexson Tiong, As Sufi Azli, Alexson Ajai Mambai, Mohd Eswandy Hasan, Ahmad Amirul Fadzli Pendi, Darith Darianja Muiim, Mustaza Sidi, Ting Chek Tee, Mohd Azizi Ibrahim and Naim Bakri Muhammadie.
They are accompanied by head coach Fred Mandagi, Filipino coach Wilbur Buag-Ay Andogan, Muhammad Helman Morni and Sarawak Boxing Association (SABA) official Gulbudin Hekmateyer Rahman.