Businessman picked to manage Sarawak boxing

0

Rahman hands the appointment letter to Chin (third right) as Saba members, coaches and boxers look on at the Sarawak Club yesterday.

KUCHING: 54-year-old Augustin Chin is the new Sarawak boxing team manager.

He received his appointment letter from Sarawak Amateur Boxing Association (Saba) president Dato Rahman Lariwoo in a simple ceremony held at Sarawak Club yesterday.

Chin’s first task is to helm the state boxing team preparing for this year’s Perak Sukma in September.

“I had discussed with Chin and he promised to manage Sarawak team like his own company,” Rahman told reporters yesterday while expressing confidence that Chin “will lead the Sarawak boxing team to many good things”.

It comes as no surprise that the new manager has ambitious plans.

“My immediate plan for this year is to make the public get interested in the sport and I am thinking of having quarterly tournaments and this year maybe we start in late June or early July”, Chin said.

Knowing that the state sports council (MSNS) could not completely fund Saba’s programme he wants more from the private sector to come and join the association and help to provide sponsorship.

On the boxers, he said he will focus on their welfare and needs.

“I hope to make more people love the sport of boxing and to find more young fighters for our future and to continue to have (a pool of) fighters to replace those who retire”, he explained.

Meanwhile, Saba chief Rahman told the state boxers to stay motivated.

“I want you to make good of yourself in the sport and make your family proud.

“I know from boxers who have retired that they all feel proud to have represented the state and the country.

“You should be thinking the same”, he said.

State chief coach Muhammad Helman Morni is upbeat about sending “nine strongest fighters” for the coming Sukma.

“Let there be no speculation on the medal tally from our boxers in Sukma 2018 but there will be state boxers on the podium to receive some sort of medal,” he promised.