Wong (right), Yoong (second right) and Ting (second left) are part of the WFM delegation who will be traveling to Beijing this week.
KUCHING: A six-member delegation from the Wushu Federation of Malaysia (WFM) will be paying a courtesy call on the newly elected committee of the China Wushu Association (CWA) from Jan 5-11.
Leading the delegation is WFM president Allen Wong, secretary William Kong, selection and coaching committee chairman James Ting, judging committee chairman Yoong Thong Foong and national coaches Wong Wai Ching and Tan Ching Fung.
Wong said the courtesy call is necessary because WFM will be helping to organise the wushu competition of this year’s SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. They will be consulting CWA on the technical aspects of organising the competition.
“Other objectives of the visit will be to enhance ties between CWA and WFM and discussing possible cooperation between both parties,” he said yesterday.
According to Wong, WFM will also be on the lookout for a China coach to replace the existing coach who will be leaving the country soon.
On another development, Wong, who is also president of the Wushu Federation of Sarawak, said he was proud that two more Sarawak athletes have been roped into the national squad.
“Clement Ting Su Wei will join the senior team while Lee Hui Xian will be joining the back-up squad,” he said.
Both will be reporting to the national head coach for training today (Jan 2) and Lee will continue with her studies at the Bukit Jalil Sports School.
This brings the total number of Sarawak athletes in the national team to six including Loh Jack Chang, Gjeblehem Bong, Diana Bong and Audrey Chan.
Wong was also pleased with the success of the 26th Sarawak Wushu Championship in Sibu from Dec 17-18.
He said WFS is thankful to coaches, parents, teachers, schools and State Education Department.
“Special thanks also goes to Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee who is also MSNS director, and MSNS coordinator for wushu Thomas Chia,” he added.
Meanwhile, Sarawak head coach Yoong Thong Fong and coach Lau Hui Wei have also identified many potential athletes who will be roped into the backup squad in preparation for the challenge in Sukma XIX in Perak next year.
“We hope that the parents of the selected athletes will cooperation with WFS by sending them to train at our elite training centre in Kuching,” said Wong.
24 athletes including backup athletes have also been short listed for Sukma XIX and the final squad will comprise six male and six female athletes.
“Some of the athletes who are potential Sukma medallists will also be sent for training stints in China and we are working very closely with MSNS on this matter,” said Wong.