Stress sports science and upgrade, coaches urged

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Abdul Karim (fifth left), Ik Pahon (fourth left) and Snowdan (fifth right) giving the thumbs up after the launch of the Third East Malaysia Coaching Symposium and Sports Science Seminar yesterday.

KUCHING: The achievements of Sarawak athletes at last year’s Sukma have shown the importance of applying sports science in preparing athletes for competition.

In stating this, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said most of those who won the gold medal did so not only through their natural ability but also with the introduction of sports science elements into their training programme.

“Nutrition, psychology, physical conditioning, a well-planned training programme – these are just some of the elements which will help an athlete to achieve success. As coaches, I hope that you, the participants, will realise the importance of these various disciplines in achieving sports success.

“Symposiums and seminars like this one are the best place for you to develop and enhance your sports science knowledge. I am confident that through this programme, coaches will realise how much needs to be done before sporting success can be achieved,” he said when officiating the 3rd East Malaysia Coaching Symposium and Sports Science Seminar here yesterday.

The Minister also encouraged local coaches to continually upgrade themselves.

“Obviously, for coaches, you should not only aim to be a good coach for your athletes, but you should look at it as a stepping stone to a more established career.

“Get your sports science certificate. If there is a chance for you to have an international certification, by all means go for it.

“You should all aim to not only be excellent coaches in Sarawak, but be excellent coaches in other countries, while representing Sarawak. I believe that to be a sports powerhouse, we should not only be Sukma champions, but our athletes and coaches should be exported to other states and countries, and be successful there,” he said.

Meanwhile, East Malaysia National Sports Institute Committee chairperson Dr Tan Kah Hock said in order for Sarawak and Sabah to reach the staus of the sports powerhouse, it is crucial for the two states to educate their coaches on the latest in Sports Medicine and Sports Science.

“Sports have become a science and in order to move forward, you need to get our coaches to have a paradigm shift that they need to change in order to keep up with the trend that we need to use the science of training to upskill ourselves and bring us to another level. That’s the whole objective of this symposium,” he added.

Also present at the event were Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports permanent secretary Datu Ik Pahon Joyik, Sarawak Sports Corporation chief executive officer Dr Ong Kong Swee and Sabah Sports Council director Terrance Edward Pudin.