Boxers from the First Infantry Division boxing excellence centre with Fadzil (sixth from right) and Sapok (fifth right) during the sending-off ceremony.
KUCHING: The state contingent is determined to make the most out of the Malaysia Cup Boxing Championship to be held at Dataran Lawin in Gerik, Perak from July 18-24.
According to the team manager Major Sapok Biki, the 13 boxers from First Infantry Division boxing excellence centre will take part in all categories from lightfly weight to light heavyweight category.
“With the continuous and intensive training and high commitment by the boxers, I believed they can perform very well,” he said while revealing that four other boxers will be ‘borrowed’ by another state which does not enough boxers for the tournament.
‘We are hoping to bring the good news for the state,” Sapok told reporters at the sending off ceremony officiated by Thirty-First Infantry Commander Brigadier General Dato’ Fadzil Tajuddin at the Muara Tuang army camp here on Thursday night.
Sapok, who is also the team coach, said that apart from training, the boxers will bring with them invaluable exposure experience from competing in earlier tournaments including the National Golden Gloves 2015 and 2016.
Meanwhile, another group of nine junior boxers will compete in the Mayor’s Cup to be held in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah from Aug 3-6.
They were invited to the competition where they will take on boxers from Sabah.
In his remarks, Fadzil believe both tournaments will serve as good exposure for the boxers who are also preparing for this year’s Armed Forces boxing championships.