63 people with disabilities undergo sports talent identification test
SIBU: The Sarawak Maritime AcademyheldaTalent Identification programme for 63 people with disabilities (OKU) yesterday.
The programme is to select representatives for central zone (Sibu,KapitandMukah)forSarawak Sports to be held in Kuching from Dec 14 to 17.
Those selected will compete in the four sports, namely swimming, athletics, power lifting and archery in the state-level competition.
Thetwo-dayidentificationprocess was carried out by Association for Disabled Sports and Recreation (Pesron) Sarawak.
“Actually, it is today (yesterday) and tomorrow (today). This is a talent identification programme that focuses on OKU. The programme is the first to be carried out state-wide.
“This programme is to look for new blood in sports for OKU. Under the Ministry of Welfare, Community Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development, there are three groups of sports for them, namely Paralympics, Malaysia Deaf Games (Sopma), and Special Olympics.
“This talent identification programme is to get new blood. We will probably get the old ones to give guidance to the young ones or take up coaching,” Sarawak Pesron president Matthew Chin Hiong Choi told The Borneo Post.
He pointed out: “Datuk Fatimah Abdullah’s idea is that they (OKU athletes) must be given a chance to enjoy what normal athletes can enjoy. So, be it at competitive, leisure or recreational level.”
Hence, Chin said by doing the various tests in the various sports they may suddenly click on the one that they like.
He said the programme started from Kuching and then moved on to Mukah and yesterday in Sibu.
He added that from here, they will move to Kapit before travelling to down to Sarikei, Betong, Sri Aman and return to Kuching.
From there, they will then move to Miri, where they will meet up with OKU athletes from Miri and Bintulu, and ending the programme in Limbang.
“Unti l recently, fol lowing Malaysia’s excellent achievements in the Brazil Paralympics, the society begin to see that the OKU too have much to contribute to the country and themselves. So, we are doing just that.”
He also disclosed that Sarawak is a power house in OKU sports, and the champion for the national Paralympics for 12 times, spanning a period of 24 years.
Sarawak first became champion in 1994 in Johor and has defended the title since then.
A team of dedicated doctors and optometrists have checked on the athletes to determine if they are medically fit for the sports.
AlsopresentwasSpecialOlympics Sarawak Sibu Chapter accompany officer Mohamad Safree Mohamad Kassim.