Ministry join appeal to reinstate weightlifting in Sukma
KOTA KINABALU: The Youth and Sports Ministry will give its full support to help the Sabah Weightlifting Association in its appeal attempt to reinstate the sport in the Malaysia Games (Sukma).
Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Masiung Banah said the ministry has expressed its intention to assist the association so that weightlifting could be contested as a sport at the 19th Sukma to be held in Perak in September.
“Weightlifting has never failed us in terms of medal achievements and therefore, its exclusion from Sukma would certainly dampen our hopes to achieve our 40 gold medals target.
“To this end, we would like to express our intention to aid the association so that weightlifting could be included back in the Games,” Masiung said.
He was representing Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan at the opening ceremony of the National Weightlifting Open Championships at Star City Mall in Asia City here yesterday.
Also present was Malaysia Weightlifting Federation vice president Abu Hanapiah Ismail, Sabah Weightlifting Association president Philip Gisan and Sabah Sports Board chairman Datuk Louis Rampas among others.
According to Masiung, the state association has produced outstanding athletes in the past, some of whom had even went on to become Commonwealth champions like Martin Guntali, Aricco Jumitih, Franceay Titus and Constantine Awos.
“I hope the past achievements of these athletes would inspire all of you here today to strive and be fully committed to your roles and responsibilities in ensuring that the development of weightlifting is always on the right track.
“We will present an appeal at the next meeting and hopefully the Minister (of Youth and Sports Malaysia Khairy Jamaluddin) would consider reinstating weightlifting back into the list of sports in Sukma.
“But whatever the outcome, be it positive or negative, I hope all of you would embrace this challenge and one day take back the spotlight that once shone on weightlifting.
“This is your challenge…and I urge you to rise to the occasion and embrace it because we will not hesitate to support you. All of us here want the sport to flourish and in order for that to happen, there must be cooperation from everyone,” Masiung said.
He added that it was through tournaments and championships such as this where talents can be identified and groomed for the future.
For the record, weightlifting was one of several sports that were given the boot after it was deemed by the Federal Youth and Sports Ministry (through the National Sports Council) that athletes involved in the sport were ignoring repercussions and warnings on doping.
In mid-December last year, Khairy had announced that taekwondo and sepaktakraw along with weightlifting would be dropped as core sports due to poor performance or not showing improvement.
The three sports were subsequently taken out of the list of Sukma sports and, to date, their leadership were still negotiating with the National Sports Council to have their respective sport included back in the Games.
Meanwhile, Abu Hanapiah, who is also MWF acting secretary, hoped that all coaches, officials and athletes would take doping matters more seriously so that the development of the sport would not be sidelined again in future.
“I think everyone plays a role in this matter, especially the athletes, so I hope you will all take this more seriously,” he said.
According to Philip, the championship was supposed to be held here late last year but was postponed due to technical reasons.
He said more than 70 athletes from 12 state teams were taking part in this three-day championship.
Towards this end, Philip thanked the Youth and Sports Ministries (state and federal) as well as the State and National Sports Councils for their support.