The Development of Snooker in Sarawak
Part III: The Way Forward
SIBU: All hopes are not lost to arrest the declining standard of snooker in Sarawak.
Around the world snooker is one of the highest paid sports for elite players. It is dubbed the ‘gentleman’s sport’ which requires players to dress up smartly during competition.
Despite all the effort poured in by enthusiasts to cleanse the game of its bad image in the state, however, a lot remains to be done.
In 2006, the state government gave the impetus for the setting up of the Sarawak Billiards and Snooker and Sports Federation (SBSSF). Among other things, it was aimed at promoting the sport as a healthy recreational activity and upgrading the standard of play.
However, snooker entrepreneurcum-enthusiast Mark Yeo says SBSSF has been rather reluctant to see the big picture.
The more tournaments the better and all these are testimony of your intention to upgrade the standard of the sport. Write in to the sports council and I am sure all the requests will be sincerely entertained. — Hii King Hung, Sibu Sports Council in-charge
Soliciting support from MSNS and SSC
He has openly called on the State Sports Council (MSNS) and Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) to come forward.
“If MSNS and SSC are willing to step in to render their crucial assistance to the snooker development, then history is bound to be rewritten,” he said.
“SSC and MSNS are two very different entities compared to SBSSF. SBSSF is more into the administrative work while both SSC and MSNS are more concerned about results,” he added.
Just look to Malaysia Games (Sukma) or any other national competitions that MSNS and SSC are involved in. It is a clear testimony that these two bodies are looking for results. To them, it is the results that count.”
“If there is any remaining hope to upgrade the standard of snooker in the state, we can only rely on MSNS and SSC,” he said and added that the two bodies have the manpower and resources to make things happen.
Yeo also recalled that in 2013 SBSSF president Datuk John Sikie Tayai said he would propose to the Social Development Ministry to set aside three tables at the Civic Centres in Kuching, Sibu and Miri to start the junior development programme for snooker and pool.
He hailed the initiative but is left wondering whether there is such a proposal or not.
“If there are no grassroots development, there is no way for any sport to excel.”
Snooker as a school cocurriculur activity
Yeo also suggests that the Education Ministry give the green light to include snooker as one of the school co-curricular activities similar to taekwondo, wushu, silat, sepak takraw and other recognised school sports.
“It will be a dream come true for all snooker enthusiasts if snooker can be included,” he said.
They could proceed with organising inter-school, interdivision and even inter-state competitions, he added.
Venues are of no problem, he said, as only selected snooker centres will be picked to host tournaments.
“We will also call in parents and guide them on the direction of the sport to let them understand more about snooker.”
In search of stars
In Sarawak, Yeo lamented, we have yet to come across a snooker player who can be classified as a star player after all these years.
Look at swimming, squash, bowling, athletics or even football. The state has produced countless numbers of star athletes who excelled through the years.
But in snooker, if we are to count the number of star players, suffice to say that there are only about a handful and, sadly, they are the same old faces.
He pointed out that the many tournaments organised by Executive 3 Snooker Centre and the Sibu Swan City Club offer a glimmer of hope with a new generation of players coming up.
“We also send our players to compete in bigger tournaments such as National Closed and Asian Snooker Championship regularly to gain the necessary expertise, experience and exposure.”
“These are the players who are training on their own, without any professional coach to guide them.”
Sevearl players have also attended referee courses in the peninsula to further upgrade their knowledge of the sport.
“All these are positive steps taken by them to make sure that snooker will remain a relevant sport,” Yeo summed up.
Window of opportunity
Sibu Sports Council in-charge Hii King Hung has advised snooker enthusiasts to write in to get the support for snooker development.
She also suggested that they organise more tournaments, competitions, seminars and coaching courses for the players and referees, coaches and technical personnel to keep abreast of developments.
“The more tournaments the better and all these are testimony of your intention to upgrade the standard of the sport,” she pointed out.
“Write in to the sports council and I am sure all the requests will be sincerely entertained,” she said.
“Do not wait for the sports council to look for you. You should take the initiative to seek aids from the sports council.”
Fighting the good fight
Snooker entrepreneur Elvis Wong said it is very unfortunate that negative perceptions towards the sport still persist.
“I do not understand why people still have that negative perception about the sport. The biggest reason, I think, is perhaps they do not truly understand the nature of the game and the players involved,” he wondered.
“Snooker is a very challenging and intricate game that requires patience and analytical skills of an individual. It is also a very creative and innovative game that encompasses a strong mindset.”
Moreover, Wong added, snooker is one of the highest paid sports in the world.
“When you switch on television and watch the top players compete in an international tournament, you will realize how cool and steady these players are. These are world class players and all of us should emulate their attitude and behavior.”
Snooker players nowadays practise good etiquette and follow the rules of the game, he stressed.
“People ought to change their mentality and perception towards the sport. What they describe about snooker no longer exist.”
Wong, who is the owner of Repok Cue Snooker Centre in Sarikei, is among the few good men who continue to advocate the cause of developing the sport they all love.
Since he started his business, Wong has organised tournaments to allow players to showcase their potting skills.
“It’s not always easy to host competitions as we require huge amount of expenses, sometimes costing RM20,000, including the prize money and other logistics” he said.
“All these while, we fork out all the expenses for the local snooker competitions. Rarely have the private sectors render any financial assistance to us, or even the relevant government bodies.” But he remains optimistic. “It may take another decade for the state to produce a national champion but at least that shows that what we are doing now is not wasted.”
This is the final section of a three-part series