Abdul Karim (centre) receives a souvenir from Sasa advisor Datuk Seri Teng Chi Lik (left) while Matthew looks on.
KUCHING: The Sarawak Armsport Association (Sasa) will need to persuade other states to popularize arm wrestling before it can be included in the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah made this suggestion while saying that it will require at least eight states agreeing to participate before the sport could be included.
“While arm wrestling is getting popular among our youths now, for it to be contested in Sukma you need get the support from other states as well.
“I would not be surprised if arm wrestling is contested in Sukam one day, but that will depend on how fast you can link up to the other state associations to promote the sport and then lobby for its inclusion,” he said during Sasa’s courtesy call on him yesterday.
According to Sasa president Matthew Dominic Barin, there are already seven states with such associations.
In Sarawak itself, he said Sasa’s plan is to go to schools to promote the sport. So far they have identified 20 schools in Kuching.
The response, he revealed, towards arm wrestling in most of the schools that they have visited was very encouraging.
“It is our hope to see arm wrestling be included as one of the contested sports in Sukma.
“We will increase our networking with the other states in Peninsular Malaysia in promoting the sport and eventually lobby for the sport to be included in Sukma,” he added.