Big leap onto SEA Games stage for state exponents

KUCHING: Although it was not a gold medal outing for Sarawak’s exponents at the justconcluded 13th Asean Taekwondo Championships, state officials are pleased that some from the team of eight have caught the attention of the national selectors.

While competing in Perlis, the Sarawak State Taekwondo Association revealed that the national body has selected a few Sarawakians to represent the country for the August SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur. It was also noted that the Sarawakian exponents are relatively young with huge potential.

Sarawak’s team of eight in Perlis won two silver and four bronze medals at the showdown held in Kangar, Perlis, from

I hope Sarawakians who will represent the country in the coming SEA Games are ready for the punch. I am optimistic they will not let me down as I know their abilities. Master Tan Check Joon, Sarawak State Taekwondo technical chairman

March 21- 25. The medals came from Tan Yen Ming ( silver for men’s Heavyweight ), Nurul Nur Hafizza Mahdi (silver for women’s Middleweight) and Caren Li Ying Ming ( bronze for women’s Lightweight ) in the Kyorugi event while Nur Hidayah Abdul Karim, Maryline Bungan Lian and Nur Ifa Husna Saiful won a bronze medal in the Poomsae Female team category and Rudy Grocer ( bronze medal for Poomsae Mix Pair with Nur Hidayah).

Nur Hidayah also won another bronze in the women’s Individual category.

According to state technical chairman Master Tan Check Joon of the WTF- affiliated Sarawak State Taekwondo Association, the exponents have shown a great improvement and he was confident the state athletes can acquity themselves at the August SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

“I hope Sarawakians who will represent the country in the coming SEA Games are ready for the punch. I am optimistic they will not let me down as I know their abilities,” he said when contacted by The Borneo Post yesterday.