Competitive sailors in S’wak need a boost, Lee says
MIRI: More efforts from various relevant agencies are required to boost the standard of sailors in Sarawak.
Assistant Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture Datuk Lee Kim Shin said this is crucial to meet the requirement of national competitions like Sukma.
“From the previous Sukma games, Sarawak has yet obtained any medal in sailing sports. However, we are setting our sights for the coming Sukma 2018 where I was told by coach Ariffin that our sailors are ready for it,” Lee told reporters after officiating the KFC-MCC Sarawak Open Regatta 2017 at Marina Bay yesterday.
Lee also urged the organising committee to turn the event into a significant annual event in Miri.
About 50 participants from Sarawak, Sabah, Johor, Perak as well as Brunei and Thailand are competing in four categories – windsurfing, laser, dinghy (420) and optimist - during the threeday event. The participants are aged between 9 to 62.
Meanwhile, on a suggestion for a new competition to specially encourage young talents, Lee said that it could be made possible with the support from the corporate sector to support the idea.
“Sarawak Open Regatta was made possible as it was under the sponsorship of KFC. We are looking forward to something similar and the effort to plan for the new cup (championship) takes not one but the cooperation from many parties,” he stressed