Snowdan (second left) with Aziz (second right), Ong (left) and Chew in a show of solidarity at the press conference.
KUCHING: The Sarawak government has given its thumbs up for a badminton academy to be set up at the Sarawak Stadium Complex in Petra Jaya by the Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA).
Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Snowdan Lawan said the proposed RM35 million academy will help develop and produce high calibre players like former world number one men’s singles shuttler Datuk Lee Chong Wei.
“It is indeed heartening for us to see that the development of badminton in Sarawak is being well taken care of by SBA. The emphasis given on the developing the standard of the racquet game is timely and appropriate in view of the popularity of badminton in the country including Sarawak,” he said at the press conference at a local hotel yesterday.
“This is evident with the sheer large number of people who attended the recent Celcom Axiata Malaysia Open Badminton Championship at Stadium Perpaduan Negeri Sarawak, Petra Jaya from April 4 to 9.
“For the record, the four-day international event had attracted a crowd of almost 20,000 people including those from throughout Malaysia and also overseas such as Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, Singapore and even as far as New Zealand, United Kingdom and Japan.
“All of the sudden, Sarawak has become famous among badminton enthusiasts from throughout the states and also all over the world. And for that, we record our appreciation to SBA under the leadership Tan Sri Abdul Aziz for doing us a big favour by bringing comsuch internationally acclaimed badminton tournament to the Sarawak shores,”,” said Snowdan.
He added that the State government, through Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, had always welcomed and encouraged the organising of international sporting events locally.
“The direct impacts of bringing and organising international sporting events are huge. It greatly helps in the promotion and development of sports locally as well as to the sports tourism industry.
“It is also in line with the Sarawak’s government efforts in building and having world-class facilities for the benefit of the people,”,” he said.
“It is also heartening for us to hear that Sarawak Badminton Association is “dead serious” with the establishment of the long-term Sarawak Badminton Development Programme especially with the plans of setting up its own badminton academy.
Meanwhile, Snowdan also commended SBA, its affiliates and partners for successfully inviting the Jooyyume Badminton Academy of Xiamen, China to come for their summer camp visit and training in Kuching.
Twelve players aged between nine and 12 from the academy will be training and “sparring” with players from the Sarawak State Sports Council badminton junior development programme at Tunku Putra International School hall during the camp from July 14-18.
The assistant minister spoke of the benefits from the proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to be signed by SBA and the visiting academy from China.
Local badminton coaches, he added, will also gain from interacting with the visiting coaches and experts. Also present at the press conference were Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee and The World Sports Equipment (Kch) Sdn Bhd deputy managing director Morris Chew Chin Teck.