Call to make tennis SUKMA core sport
The compe ve rivalry among teams and players at the hard courts in Kuching, Sarawak two years ago might not be repeated at the 19th edi on of the Malaysia Games in Perak this September as tennis is dropped from the list of SUKMA core sports.
KOTA KINABALU: The competitive rivalry among teams and players at the hard courts in Kuching, Sarawak two years ago might not be repeated at the 19th edition of the Malaysia Games in Perak this September as tennis is dropped from the list of SUKMA core sports.
And the disappointment is not only lamented in Sabah but all over the country, as the second most popular sport in the world continues to get sidelined at Malaysia's largest biannual sporting carnival.
Tennis Malaysia vice president, who is also Sabah Tennis Association (STA) president, Johnson Koh, said fans of the sport all over the country are reeling.
He said they are banking on the new Federal Youth and Sports Minister to intervene so that tennis in the country can be revived by bringing it back into the list of core sports for SUKMA.
"We await with full hope and Tennis Malaysia continues to lobby hoping at the same time that the Youth and Sports Minister of Sabah YB Frankie Poon together with his counterpart in Sarawak and Sports Executive Committees of other states would play their roles in supporting this cause.
"Nothing is impossible if we all work together," Koh said when leading STA on a courtesy call at the ministry's office in Wisma Muis, Sembulan here, yesterday.
Also present were permanent secretary Datuk Awang Damit Anak, Sabah Sports Board general manager Datuk Penyuki Matta, assistant principal secretary to the Youth and Sports Ministry Mat Jaidin Md Yassin and Sabah Sports Council director Terrance Edward Pudin.
"For me, failure to make tennis as a core sport is a huge loss for Malaysia because we are talking about a sport that offers the second biggest prize money (individual sport) after golf, which young Malaysians can legitimately pursue as their professional career.
"It is also a waste of the sports infrastructure that exists in all the districts in Sabah if we do not make tennis as a core sport. All our efforts to develop young talents would be wasted if tennis continues to get sidelined this way," Koh stressed.
According to him, there are eight states including Sabah that are currently voicing concerns on the matter, urging the National Sports Council to accept tennis as a SUKMA core sport.
"Allowing tennis to remain as just an elective sport and not staging it regularly and consistently in SUKMA is tantamount to stunting the efforts of state associations. These associations all over the country are committed and dedicated to developing sporting talents for tennis and yet the sport continues to get sidelined.
"We have never given up here at Tennis Sabah, we will continue our preparation as we have done for the past six years in the hope that the right decisions will be made so that tennis be given equal opportunity as other sports to develop, flourish and progress," said Koh.
Meanwhile, after listening to STA's briefing, Frankie said he would use his capacity to raise the matter to the federal level but reminded that there would be due process that needs to be followed.
"I agree that tennis is not a new sport, but as to why up to now it remains as an optional sport in SUKMA, we will have to refer to the national level.
"I think at the end of the day there needs to be some brainstorming with regards to core sports. If there is a chance for me to meet the federal minister, I will certainly bring this matter up," Frankie said.
Towards this end, he thanked Koh for his initiative and STA for their efforts and sacrifice in creating history by winning the first SUKMA tennis gold and bronze medals for Sabah at the previous SUKMA in Kuching, Sarawak two years ago.
Frankie also went on to share his experience, saying that in his time (before the advent of modern technology), much of what he learnt about sports came from watching television during his time studying in the United Kingdom.
"I think in order to create successful athletes, sports must be nurtured at a young age. Exposure to sports at an early age is key to getting the youngsters interested and involved in sports and that is crucial because through sports we can instill strong characteristics and discipline.
"Therefore, after looking at the situation faced by Sabah Tennis and Malaysia, my ministry will give full support by playing its role in helping the sport as well as other sports in order to further uplift Sabah's capabilities," he said.