Mordi (third left) and Wong exchange mementos after the meeting, as (from left) Azizi, Fatimah, Philomena and Malvern look on.
KUCHING (April 13): Sports associations at every level must accord close attention to grassroots development, so as to ensure the continuity of talents.
In making this call, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Mordi Bimol also gave assurance that the ministry would provide assistance and support that would match the approaches of the respective bodies.
“Each sport is different, but one similarity among them that I see is the importance of grassroots development.
“Accomplished athletes cannot emerge out of nowhere; there has to be a foundation first.
“This is the part where sports associations play a key role,” he said in a briefing held after receiving a courtesy call from Kuching Division Bodybuilding Association (KDBBA) at Sarawak Youth and Sports Complex (Kombes) here today.
In this respect, the Mas Gading MP commended the KDBBA for providing the starting platform for bodybuilding athletes from the southern region of the state to explore further.
“From what I understand from our meeting, the KDBBA has clearly outlined the steps onwards: starting from Mr Kuching competition and going to the state and national championships.
“I am also informed that many of our Kuching athletes have gone up to regional, Asian and international levels.
“This is what I mean by establishing grassroots development,” he said.
However, Mordi also acknowledged the challenges affecting bodybuilding.
“A major part of my portfolio as the deputy minister, I am tasked with overseeing youth and sports development in Sarawak and Sabah.
“Throughout my working visits and engagements here in the past week, I get to know more about the concerns and issues affecting our sports stakeholders in Sarawak, and also feedback from the local sports community.
“I give my assurance that these matters would be looked into and addressed,” he added.
The KDBBA delegation comprised the president Adrian Wong, deputy president Philomena Dexclyn Siar, as well as Sarawak Bodybuilding Association president Dr Malvern Abdullah.
The briefing was also attended by Department of Youth and Sports Sarawak assistant director (sports development) Fatimah Abdul Rahman and Sports Commissioner of Malaysia-Sarawak Region, Azizi Johari.