Statewide search for potential para athletes
KUCHING: The search for potential athletes among the disabled is given greater urgency following last year’s ruling that only participants between 14 and 45 years old are allowed to compete in the Para Sukma.
According to Minister of Welfare, Community Well-Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, it was vital to identify them from young in order to provide them with necessary coaching. She also revealed that the state National Disabled Persons Sports and Recreation Association ( Pesron) wil l go statewide to search for more potential athletes and sports persons among the disabled.
“We have to find as many as possible now that they have limit the age of participants competing in the Para Sukma Games. We have to find more athletes as we will never give up our title of being powerhouses in the games,” she told a press conference held at her office yesterday.
For the record, Sarawak are 19- time champions since the inaugural games in 1994.
During the press conference state Pesron president Matthew Chin stressed that apart from scouting new talents, they are also focussed on developing and improving the current athletes.
“Pesron have many programmes lined up for the athletes that are currently with us. Pesron have a dedicated team who are working hard in grooming the athletes that we have and new ones into future champions,” he said.
Pesron committee members had paid a courtesy call on Fatimah who is their patron.
They briefed her on the plans and activities which Pesron intends to carry out this year.
These include its 10 th anniversary gala dinner, fun run, exhibitions, publishing newspaper features and columns.
A coffee table book on state Pesron’s achievements is also expected to be published soon.
Also present during the press conference were state Pesron deputy president Adzohari Jamil, secretary Mohamad Azlan Bujang, assistant secretary Sia Chin Hoo, treasurer Anthony Jong and other committee members.