WFS hopes sanda can bring in medals for Sarawak
KUCHING: The Wu shu Federation of Sarawak ( WFS) will be fielding only a men’s for the sanda (free sparring) event in the wushu competition for the 19th Sukma in Perak this September.
WFS deputy president James Ting Ing Seek said sanda has been included as a medal event in wushu at Sukma for the first time, and Sarawak are hoping to win some medals from it.
“However, we will only be sending a men’s team as we do not have female athletes for this event,” he said after WFS annual general meeting at a local hotel yesterday.
Noting that there are plenty of potential talents for sanda, Ting, who is also WFS head coach and chairman of the WFS development and technical committee, said the association would be looking to develop more athletes in sanda.
“We will be going to Sibu at the end of this month to look at the participants of the sanda selection trial and pick the best athletes for our Sukma team.
“The selected athletes will also be sent for an exposure trip in China a few months before Sukma XIX.
“While in China, we will also be looking to get a China coach for the sanda team,” added Ting.
On the wushu development programme, Ting said there are now 52 schools involved and WFS is hoping to enter more schools to recruit more trainees at grassroots level.
“We want to have a bigger pool of athletes for the selection of back-up and state elite teams,” he said.
According to Ting, WFS is the only body sanctioned by Wushu Federation of Malaysia and the Olympic Council of Malaysia to develop wushu as a high performance sport in the state.
“There are parents who are confused with other wushu associations going into schools to teach wushu but in the end ask why their children are not able to represent Sarawak in Sukma or Asian Wushu Championship,” he said.
This is because other than WFS and its affiliates, other associations are only doing mass sports and traditional martial arts.
Meanwhile, Allen Wong Siew Poh and James Ting were returned unopposed as the WFS president and deputy president for the new term 2018- 2019 at the annual general meeting.
The new faces were Lucas Lim Tee Kiat who is elected as the secretary and William Bong Kuet Jung as the treasurer.
The assistant secretary is Kok Swee Yong while Jong Joon Kit is the assistant treasurer.
Vice presidents are Tiong Yong Hee, Kho Hu Chuan, Ling Ung Hee and Lyde Lait.
The commit tee members comprise Lau Hui Wei, Jong Joon Jit, Lam Chee Kiong, Jong Chin Wei, Michael Wong Guan Teck and Chew Su Beng.