Curtin Malaysia aspire to be regional centre for sports
MIRI: Cur t in University, Malaysia ( Curtin Malaysia) is keen to become a centre for rugby and other sports in this region.
Its pro vice-chancellor, president and chief executive professor Jim Mienczakowski said the university has always been very supportive of rugby in Miri. This is in addition to having a lively rugby scene involving students, staff and visiting players at its campus, while hosting a number of local tournaments through the years.
“We are especially keen to be involved in the development of the sport in local schools, and in the development of new players to represent Miri. In fact, we are keen to become a centre for rugby and other sports in this region,” he remarked at the recent Hornbill 10’s Rugby Tournament hosted by Curtin Malaysia.
In a press statement, Professor Mienczakowski said Curtin Malaysia’s interest in sports includes an ongoing partnership wit h t he Nat iona l Spor t s Institute of Malaysia to conduct collaborative research in sports science and engineering to improve the performance of Malaysian sports teams.
The sports science and engineering research team at Curtin Malaysia, established in 2015, also works closely with their counterparts at the School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science at Curtin University in Perth as part of a research collaboration between researchers at the Australian and Malaysian campuses.
Curtin’s School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science has an excellent track record of sportsrelated research, including injury management, prevention, orthopaedic techniques and rehabilitation, and performance optimisation. It has strong links with Hockey Australia and the Fremant le Footbal l Club in Western Australia, in addition to carrying out projects in running, cycling, triathlon, swimming, surfing, basketball, volleyball and rugby.
Professor Mienczakowski added that Curtin Malaysia also has student clubs promoting various sports including badminton, basketball, bowling, cricket, diving, dodgeball, football, futsal, netball, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, ultimate frisbee and wushu, in addition to facilities for football, rugby, futsal, tennis, cricket, basketball, netball, badminton and table tennis, and a well- equipped fitness centre.
Meanwhi l e , the one - day Hornbill 10’s tournament, held in conjunction with the Miri May Festival, was organised by the Miri Division Rugby Association ( MDRA), an af f i liate of the Sarawak Rugby Union (SRU).
MDRA chief coach Landale Cranfield said it was an intensive day of competition with almost non-stop games from about 7.40am to 5.30pm.
He thanked the university management on behalf of the players, coaches, teachers, parents and organisers for its contribution to the highly successful event, including use of its rugby pitch, provision of canopies for the spectators and transport for the players to and from the university campus.
About 300 players from 20 teams vied for honours in four categories – U15, U18, U19 and Women’s U18 - during the tournament.
Piranhas Lutong Rugby Club clinched the U19 title while SM Sains A walked away with the U18 champions’ trophy.
In the U15 competition, SM Sains A emerged champions while Letto Rhinos lifted the Women’s title.