SHOWDOWN IN JOHOR: Tan (centre) handing over the Sarawak flag to the state team at PPD Office yesterday. Also in the picture are Sapura (standing seventh right) and Pui (standing fourth right) with the 11 exponents.
BINTULU: 11 young taekwondo exponents from Smart Taekwondo Club (WTF) Bintulu will represent the state in the 3rd Taekwondo Malaysia (WTF) National Poomsae Championship from June 28-30 at UTM Skudai in Johor.
The state contingent will be led by team leader Master Tan Check Joon, team manager Dayang Sapura Awang Mahmood and coaches Pui Jak Joon and Nguyen Quoc Minh.
Nguyen, gold medalist in the 2011 World Championships, was specially brought from Vietnam last month to coach and give more input to the exponents in terms of skill and experience particularly in their preparation for Sukma 2014.
According to Pui, the young fighters have been undergoing intensive training for the Sukma and this championship is one of the trials in giving them more exposure and experience.
“We aim for two gold medals for the junior category. I think it will be a tough fight in this edition since there will be several strong exponents from the taekwondo powerhouse countries,” said Pui when met at the handing over ceremony of the Sarawak flag by Bintulu Education Officer Tan Kiang Tuang at PPD Office yesterday.
Meanwhile, Dayang Sapura urged the private sector to get involved directly in the development of taekwondo in the state by supporting the teams financially or in any kind of assistance. She said most of the exponents are using their own money and this is quite difficult to send them going abroad to participate in a competitive tournament on a regular basis.
Earlier Pui thanked the Smart Taekwondo Club (WTF) advisor Jacky Law Hieng Chai for sponsoring the trip for the team.
The 11 exponents are Ahmady Radi, Nurul Hidayah Abdull Karim, Marylyne Bungan Lian, Steffano Atom Stephen, Nur Ifa Nusna Saiful (SMK Kidurong); Debbei Isabell Guinan Padi, Scott Samuel Divers (SMK Bandar Bintulu); Augustine Rudy (SMK Assyakirin); Dayang Syamimi Sakinah Awang Dau, Huang Huat Yong (SMK Baru) and Stanley Law Sie Lee (SM Kai Dee).