STATE FIRST FOR NATION: Paruwady (centre) flanked by Mering (left) and Fudin during the press conference yesterday.
KUCHING: The 48th Khir Johari Gold Cup Sepak Takraw Championship will be held from March 24 – 27 at Stadium Perpaduan here.
The tournament which Sarawak is hosting for the first time will see 16 teams, including from the police and the army, competing for the title.
Cash prize of RM10,000 awaits the champion team, second will bag RM6,000 and the third and fourth placings will get RM4,000 each.
“The championship offers the opportunity for sepak takraw fans here to see top players displaying their skills in the sport.
“The standard of the sport here is steadily increasing. It is not impossible for it to be a number one sport,” said Sarawak Sepak Takraw Association (PSS) President Paruwady Musa yesterday.
Paruwady added that PSS had been stepping up efforts to discover and train new pool of talents, including the ‘adoption’ of SK Tabuan as well as holding the President’s Cup at various divisions.
Meanwhile, Social Development and Urbanisation Ministry principle assistant secretary (sports) Mering Wan said that the state government would be in full support of the event.
“Sarawak has been given the trust to host this national level event, and we took up the challenge despite the short notice,” he said.
The opening ceremony will be officiated by the Chief Minister on the March 23 at Pullman Hotel Kuching where the chief minister is expected to grace the ceremony.
Also present at the press conference was PSS secretary-general Fudin Chee.