State sepak takraw, taekwondo bosses hail Sukma inclusion

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Tan Sri Abang Khalid Abang Marzuki

KUCHING: Sports leaders of two sports associations in Sarawak have hailed the reinstatement of three sports taekwondo, weightlifting and sepak takraw in the 19th Sukma in Perak from Sept 10 to 22.

Persatuan Sepak Takraw Sarawak (PSS) president Tan Sri Dato Sri Abang Khalid Abang Marzuki said the announcement by National Sports Council director-general Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail on Thursday was a special and meaningful victory for the association.

In his press statement, Khalid said PSS had expected that sepak takraw would be competed in Sukma XIX after Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin had announced the dropping of the sport from Sukma on December 18 last year.

“Thank God. This is a special and meaningful victory for us in our struggle to further promote and develop sepak takraw in Sarawak and in Malaysia as a whole.

“We would like to congratulate Persatuan Sepak Takraw Malaysia president Datuk Ahmad Ismail and his committee for their concerted efforts to bring back sepak takraw as an event in Sukma Perak,” he said.

He urged the selected state players to train hard to carry the state’s challenge in Sukma and ensure success for the state in the games. “This is the second chance for us to show that sepak takraw is highly valued in the state. So, train hard and do your very best in Sukma and bring glory to Sarawak,” he added.

Khalid said PSS would be organising more competitions among the youth who have potential to represent Sarawak in Sukma XIX.

In sharing Khalid’s sentiment, Persatuan Taekwondo Negeri Sarawak (PTNS) president Mohd Salleh Sani said the association was very happy as much preparations had carried out for the state team earlier.

“Our committee members are united and working towards one mission and we are targeting to win five gold medals in Perak.

“Our preparations are also going on as scheduled,” he added.

Meanwhile, attempts to contact Sarawak Weightlifting Association president Gerald Rentap Jabu for his comments was unsuccessful.