Sabah ruggers to represent country
Sabah is shouldering na onal hopes at the Asian Women's Rugby Sevens Under-17 Championships, which is happening in Dubai on November 29-30.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is shouldering national hopes at the Asian Women's Rugby Sevens Under-17 Championships, which is happening in Dubai on November 29-30.
The 12-team championship is also a pre-qualification for the 2018 Junior Olympics.
Sabah Rugby Union (SRU) patron, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said this is Malaysia's first participation in the championship and that it should be given due attention from the federal Youth and Sports Ministry.
According to him, its minister Khairy Jamaluddin has been notified about the team's participation and he hoped the minister would take time to meet the team before their departure for Dubai.
Pandikar said all of the team's expenses up to now have been borne by themselves and that thankfully there was assistance from companies who had come forward.
“When there are young players who are interested and talented in this sport, we have no other way but to help them. What more if they are shouldering the country's hopes in this Asian Championship,” he said.
Pandikar, who is also Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat told reporters this when receiving a call from the team at his residence here, yesterday.
Also present was his wife Puan Sri Diana Diego, who is also SRU women chairperson. Diana will accompany the team to Dubai as the national contingent chief.
Diana said Malaysia is determined to make their participation felt, despite being the lowest ranked team in the fray.
“We are determined to return with an achievement that can help lift the team from the bottom of the rankings. We had centralised training 43 times to face this challenge.
“This team is the result of our development programme and I believe it will become mightier in the next two years. Whatever their progress depends heavily on the support and assistance they receive,” she said.
The championship will see Malaysia compete in Group D, alongside second choice teams, China and Thailand.
Japan are favourites and they are certain to dominate India and Laos in Group A. Group B comprises Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates and Iran, while Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and the Philippines make up Group C. The Malaysian squad: Puan Sri Diana (contingent chief), Shuriram Nairural (chaperon), Mardina Kassim (chaperon), Paul Thevaraj (team manager), Kilad Sauzah (coach), Neville Philip (assistant coach), Sandra Devie Mohana (physiotherapist), Noel Philip (game analyzer). The players: Nurhafizah Syafiqah Azman, Shania Sunani Baduk, Richelle Ricky Chang Fui Ying, Amber Bernard, Helley Halim, Siska Ann Analina Sonny, Bertanilla Jubir, Nur Kasmahdiana Muhammad Jaafar, Ester Gloria Piangkui, Feladeefia Jestin, Haslina Asarah, Annphilomeena Raj Thevaraj, Zayra Zainani Pandikar Amin, Velerina Defney Freddolin, Lika Marlene Dangin, Nur Azrina Karmila Mohd Azman and Mary Theresa Raj Thevaraj.