IT’S FORMALISED: Ting (centre) and others perform cake cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the Wushu championship.
MIRI: More school level sport events should be organised to draw active participation from students.
Political secretary to Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Sebastian Ting said such effort will complement the government’s effort to bring back the glory of sports in schools through the implementation of the one-student-one sport vision.
“Apart from sporting, such event indirectly will help to promote better social interaction among the students from various races,” he stated in his address when officiating at Miri Wushu Inter-school Championship at Miri Civic Centre yesterday.
Ting gave wushu as one of the state’s excellent sport performance in international level. As such, he wanted athletes to develop their potential well in wushu so that they could be selected either for state, national or even world championship.
Touching further on other aspects, wushu he said can be used to inculcate discipline among youths.
Wushu is a great martial art with roots dating back thousands of years in China, and has been recognised as an ancient Asian art for self discipline of mind and body.
“A typical wushu student is disciplined, has a good behaviour and healthy body, so as to be able to accept any challenges physically. In addition, he/she should be mentally fit, to be able to differentiate between good and bad, and be morally upright,” he remarked.
Besides, the positive aspects of martial arts could be harnessed to curb social ills such as smoking and fighting among students.
Hence, he suggested that martial arts like wushu which stressed on self-control; discipline and fitness to curb social problems.
Other than that, wushu through many years had gained international acceptance as an excellent enhancement to health.
Its practice provided an excellent release of stress through self discipline in breathing and meditation.
At the same time, Ting on behalf Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Dato’ Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui announced an allocation of RM7,500 each grant under Minor Rural Project (MRP) to Miri Wushu Association and Miri Taekwando Association.
Meanwhile, more than 100 participants from secondary and primary schools in Miri took part in the championship.
Chairman of Miri Wushu Association cum the chief coach Master Tiong Ching Chiong said the championship aimed to pick the best athletes to represent Miri Division for 15th SUKMA at Kuantan to be held on July 7 until 17 this year.