National wushu tournament good exposure for young exponents — Ting

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Karim (second right, back row), Ong (second left) and Ting (right) with the state athletes and coach Lau Hui Wei (left) during the flag presentation.

KUCHING: Sarawak are not setting any medal target for its athletes at the National Wushu Championships in Penang from Oct 7 to 8.

Wushu Federation of Sarawak (WFS) deputy president James Ting said the weekend outing is more focused on the exposure for the state’s Sukma XIX Shadow team and getting the juniors to improve their mental toughness and confidence.

“The majority of the athletes are from the Sukma XIX shadow team and this is a good venue for them to gain more experience and confidence in preparation for Perak Sukma next year.

“As sanda (free sparring) events are also competed in the national meet, this is a good chance for WFS to observe and prepare our athletes for sanda events in Sukma XIX,” he said after a flag presentation ceremony to the state team by Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at Bangunan Baitul Makmur in Petra Jaya yesterday.

Also present was Sarawak Sports Corporation CEO Dr Ong Kong Swee.

According to Ting, there is a very strong possibility that sanda events will be included in wushu competition in Perak Sukma next year.

“This matter will be decided at the Wushu Federation of Malaysia’s committee meeting this Sunday,” he disclosed.

Ting was confident that the state athletes would be able to bring back some medals from the national championships.

“Some of our athletes are gold medallists at the last Sukma and I am sure they are capable of winning medals for Sarawak,” he added.

Sarawak will be represented by 16 athletes in the standardised routine, traditional and tuishou (push hands) categories.

They are Chiew Sow Hung, Elvic Bong Qian Zheng, Lee Cau Peng, Clement Ting Su Wei, Muhammad Asri Abdul Wahab, Clement Thian Fung Seng, Johan Wong Wei Xiang

Edison Wong Sing Yen, Stephanie Ngu Chai Ern, Mandy Lim Xin Hui, Yong Arifah Khairul Kok, Landy Liew Jia Yee and Bong Yun En.

Tiong Yong Hee is the team manager while the coaches are Lau Hui Wei and Ling Ung Hee.

They will also be accompanied by Sarawak head coach Yoong Thong Foong who will serve as the chief judge at the championships.

Kon Chee Kiong from Sibu, Su Chung Ung and Anthony Lee Wen Ming from Kuching will represent Sarawak in the tuishou events and they are coached by Hii Chee Toh and Kho Chung Hiong.

However, Sarawak will not be competing in the sanda events.