Sarawak wushu bids goodbye to 2009 on a golden high
KUCHING: It has been another good year for Wushu Association of Sarawak (WAS).
REAL COMMITMENT: (From left) Diana Bong Siong Lin, Loh Jack Chang and Chai Fong Ying hold their gold medals at the 25th SEA Games in Laos, in this Dec 16 file photo. — Bernama photo
According to its secretary James Ting, the biggest prize came from Diana Bong Siong Lin and Loh Jack Chang in the SEA Games in Vientiane, Laos.
Together with Chai Fong Ying, the two Sarawakians picked up a gold medal each to help Malaysia to the overall champion’s title.
Jack Chang took the men’s taolu (taijiquan and taijijian) gold, Diana, the women’s taolu (nanquan and nandao) gold and Fong Ying, the women’s taolu gold (taijiquan and taijijian).
“Overall, it has been a satisfactory year. We are happy to have produced exponents for the national team and helped the country win gold medals in the recent SEA Games,” Ting said.
He was happy to note that Jack Chang and Diana had also helped Malaysia win medals in the World Championship in Toronto, Canada, this year.
“Jack Chang won the silver in the men’s taijiquan and the bronze in the men’s taijijian while Diana won the bronze in the women’s nanquan,” he said.
Ting added that apart from the excellent achievements of the duo, state exponents also performed well in the National Open Championship, the National Junior Championship and the Hari Kebangsaan Martial Arts Tournament.
He said WAS was honoured to win the Sarawak State Sports Council’s (MSNS) Best Sports Association Award for 2007-08 and proud that Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing had taken over as its new president. Furthermore, two of its former presidents, Sim Hong Huat and Kho Ik Teck, were awarded the Eighth Duan, wushu’s second highest honour.
At state level, WAS had organised a coaches-judges seminar, a motivational retreat in Sematan and the Sarawak Championship where a lot of potentials were spotted.
“Our most important task is to unearth and groom new talents for the future. We need a continuous flow of exponents to spearhead our challenge in national meets,” Ting said.
According to him, WAS is already preparing for Sukma 2014 and 2016.
“As Sukma is MSNS’ priority, we have to train up exponents for the 2014 Games. There is even more urgency in 2016 when we (Sarawak) will play host.”
Ting disclosed that WAS had been sending exponents from back-up and development centres to national meets for the experience.
He attributed WAS’ ability to consistently produce top exponents to good administrative system, systematic development with emphasis on high discipline, talent-scouting, recommendations from coaches and looking after the exponent’s welfare.
Other factors included close coordination, cooperation and support from MSNS, Sarawak Education Department, school principals as well as parental and public support, he said.
“Commitment is also very important. The trainees must be prepared to work very hard and make some sacrifices,” he added.