SBA confident of S’wak’s chances in Perak
KUCHING: Sarawak Badminton Association (SBA) president Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain is confident that the Sarawak squad can be competitive in the coming Sukma badminton event to be held at Amanjaya Badminton Arena of Ipoh City Council Sports Complex.
“We are optimistic with our chances in this year’s Sukma and they are ready to mount a strong challenge to the other teams which will also be represented by new players,” he said.
This is based on the observation that the new players in the squad are eager to outperform their predecessors from the previous Sukma.
According to Aziz Husain, the state shuttlers will be leaving leave for Ipoh as early as Sept 7 to be familiarised with the competition venue.
The matches are to be held for 10 consecutive days with the preliminary rounds for the team event from Sept 9 to 12 while the singles, doubles and mixed events are from Sept 12 to 18.
The finals for the team event are on Sept 12 while the singles, doubles and mixed events finals are on Sept 18.
A mong the teams to beat are men’s defending champion Selangor and losing finalist Penang, women’s defending champion Penang and losing finalist Selangor.
The selection of Sarawak’s squad was conducted earlier this year when over 30 players were shortlisted from all divisions. There are many who are new entries but have shown great potential.
Some of the players competed in this year’s Round 1 of National Youth Circuit ( Zone C) in Putra Jaya from Mar 7 to 11 March, Round 2 of National Youth Circuit (Zone C) in Melaka from 5 to 6 May and the Sarawak’s leg of the Air-Asia BAM National Junior Championship at SBA Hall from July 18 to 22.
They also competed in the recently concluded Sarawak Energy Cup which ended yesterday.
Sarawak will be represented by Owen Ting Shih Wee, Nik Azizi Murat, Danny Lee Sheng Yee, Bong Yung Tze, Darren Law, Zachary Sia Chiong Shen, Barrie Chong Kwang Wei and Syafiq Azhar Haizan in the men’s competition.
Shouldering the challenge in the women’s competition are siblings Flora Fong Xin Jie and Felicia Fong Xin Hui, Erika Vallensia, Kashley Kho Tze Yin, Kam Wei Li, Kristy Tay Yong, Kourtney Kho Ker Yin and Wong Ling Ching.
The assistant chef- de-mission (ACDM) for the Sarawak badminton team is Allen Wong Siew Poh who is also SBA deputy president.
Dominic Lim Thiam Hock is the team manager while the head coach and assistant coach are Suhairuddin Rahmad and Ichwansyah respectively.