Phoong to fight for taekwondo inclusion in Sukma 2020
KOTA KINABALU: Youth and Sports Minister Phoong Jin Zhe has added his voice to fight for taekwondo to be included in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) 2020.
Phoong said he would be appealing to the Main Sukma Organising Committee when it meets in Kuala Lumpur on September 19 for taekwondo inclusion in Sukma.
The meeting is expected to finalise and confirm the 30 sports to be contested in the 20th edition of the country’s multisport event which, Johor will host starting from July 11 next year.
“We used to be the powerhouse of taekwondo and in fact it is one of the sports that Sabah are good at and have done well for the state in past Malaysia Games.
“We will continue to give our strongest support to taekwondo and other sports like weightlifting.
“In fact, I will be going for the Sukma meeting in Kuala Lumpur and will push for the inclusion of taekwondo.
“I think it is an unhealthy situation where any hosts for Sukma can choose the sport they are good at.
“Taekwondo is recognised as an international sport and hopefully it will be contested in Sukma,” Phoong told reporters this yesterday when receiving a courtesy call from the organisers of the First Courage Martial Arts (CMA) Taekwondo Championship (Social Cup), namely Kelab Sosial dan Rekreasi Peniaga Kota Kinabalu Sabah and CMA Taekwondo Club at the Luyang Communiy Centre.
For the record, taekwondo along with weighlifting and sepak takraw were dropped from the National Sports Council (NSC) Core Sports Programme in 2017 and as a result, the sports were initially excluded from the Sukma 2018 in Perak.
All three sports were later reinstated for the Perak Sukma but in Johor next year, it is still uncertain whether or not they will be included especially taekwondo.
Taekwondo enthusiast Chin Tek Ming, who is also the organising chairman of the Social Cup, welcomed the move to fight for taekwondo inclusion in Sukma.
“I’m happy that YB (Phoong) gave the sport his full support and apart from us, I think UTSA (United Taekwondo Associaion of Sabah) too will be very happy,” he said.
On the Social Cup, Chin said around 1,000 exponents were expected to take part in the tournament taking place at the 1Borneo Hypermall from September 13 to 15.
The tournament will be held in conjunction with the 23rd annivessary celebration of the Kelab Sosial dan Rekreasi Peniaga Kota Kinabalu Sabah.
A dinner to celebrate the occasion will take place at the Grand Ballroom, ITCC Penampang on September 16.
Also present were Kelab Sosial dan Rekreasi Peniaga Kota Kinabalu chairman Victor Su and secretary Yassin Chin, Master Alex Chang of CMA Taekwondo Club as well as Grand Master Ben Wong Siew Pang.