Jong Chin Wei
KUCHING: The 4th Zhong Hua Wushu Inter-School Open Championship to be held at SMK St Columba Miri this Friday (Sept 1) has attracted 65 participants from 19 schools in Miri, Bintulu and Sibu.
Organised by Piasau Zhong Hua Wushu Club in collaboration with SMK St Columba Miri, the championship is sanctioned by the Wushu Federation of Sarawak (WFS) and supported by the Sarawak Education Department and Sarawak State Sports Council.
Organising secretary Jong Chin Wei said the response was better compared to last year. The meet was open to all primary and secondary schools in Miri as well as schools and affiliates of WFS.
“We have 15 participants from six schools in Sibu and six participants from three schools in Bintulu while the rest are all from Miri.
“The main objective of organising this competition is to select the best athletes to represent Miri in the Sarawak Wushu Championship which will be held in Kuching at the end of the year.
“Apart from that, the meet is to promote wushu and unearth new talents as well as providing a platform for the athletes to gauge their standard,” said Jong.
According to Jong, the championship has attained state level standard with the meet divided into primary schools and secondary schools categories and the judges were either recognised by the state or national wushu bodies.
The organiser have invited Piasau assemblyman Dato Sebastian Ting and Miri mayor Adam Yii to grace the opening ceremony while Assistant Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin will close the event.
“We are also fortunate to have MSNS elite coach Yoong Thong Foong come to Miri as an observer as well as conduct a one-day Taiji clinic for those students who are learning and practising Taiji,” said Jong.
“We are proud that one of the national athletes Loh Jack Chang had helped Malaysia win six gold, five silver and three bronze medals at the 29th SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur from Aug 20-22,” he added on Loh who is from Miri and had won gold in taijijian and taijiquan.