Archery to focus on developing grassroots talents
KOTA KINABALU: More attention will be focused on developing grassroots talents as the Sabah Archery Association charts a course for greater success under its new leadership.
Newly elected president Hj Dzulkarnain Datuk Hj Dzulkifli said SAA would also be enhancing the competency of coaches to ensure that all archers were given the best development opportunities possible.
“Grassroots development is very important in ensuring talents for future representation. We have already begun a new programme for under-10 archers where the response was very encouraging. We will be intensifying our efforts on such programmes where development is focused on the young because it is crucial to groom talents at an early stage.
“Coaching is also very important as it goes hand-inhand with developing athletes. We will invite all active coaches to participate in courses that will help enhance their knowledge and skills to ensure our athletes have the best services in terms of coaching,” he said.
Dzulkarnain said this after being elected president at the association’s Annual General Meeting held at the Sabah Golf and Country Club, earlier this month.
Dzulkarnain won the seat after ousting Zulkhairi Ismail in a straight fight for the main post. Only one vote separated the two with Dzulkarnain receiving 10.
The previous president, Datuk Hj Zainie bin Abdul Aucasa chose not to defend his seat as he wanted to make way for new and capable individuals to take the lead. Zainie was appointed as Honorary Advisor.
The positions for deputy president, secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer were also closely contested where a single vote determined the winners.
Asmei Amin ousted Jerome Lim for the deputy president’s post, while Charley Chia edged Mohammad Safani Ringkas for secretary.
Andrew Wong Vun Fah is the assistant secretary after ousting Azmi Shazinan, while Fridolina Undul won the treasurer’s post after contesting with Wilson Foh.
Amran Atong became captain as Gabriel Liew willingly gave way after both candidates received 10 votes. Siti Cynthia Dewi Shawal is the deputy captain.
The elected committee members are Louis Su, Chong Yew Kim, Yahya Ahmad, Razi Unuh, Junaidi Riman, Sunny Tan and Samson @ Henry.
Meanwhile, Dzulkarnain also said they would be guarding SAA’s SUKMA (Malaysia Games) achievements to ensure that Sabah remain an archery powerhouse in Malaysia’s largest biennial sporting carnival.
“We will also be using more sports science technologies to try and gain an edge over archers from other states.
“Our honorary secretary Charley Chia, who is a coach from the Malaysia Sports School Sabah will provide us with these services,” he said.
Dzulkarnain hoped that everyone in the archery fraternity would cooperate with the new committee so that the sport can move to new heights.
“Synergy is very important for implementing our development plans. We are honoured to be given the mandate to lead the association and we look forward to working closely with everyone to further develop archery in Sabah,” he said.
Towards this end, Zainie, who led the association for many years, expressed his full confidence that the new committee would meet all expectations in achieving the association’s vision and mission.
For the record, it was under Zainie’s leadership that Sabah gained its footing in the sport by producing talents like Fatin Nur Fatehah Mat Salleh, who eventually went on to become Malaysia’s archery queen.