Sabah wushu set for Sukma return
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah wushu is finally making a comeback in Malaysia Games (Sukma) after a hiatus that lasted almost two decades.
The state exponents will participate in the 20th edition of the Games in Johor, which was rescheduled to March next year.
Their last appearance in the national multi-sport event was in 2004 Sukma in Negeri Sembilan.
The Sabah State Wushu Association, which was established in 2017 with Datuk Chin Kim Huang at the helm as the president, has named a fiveman squad for Johor Sukma.
“The association was officially formed in 2017 as a registered sports body under the Sports Commission,” said its deputy president Lee Hon Yee.
“We are now under the care of MSN (Sabah Sports Council) and our main aim is to develop and promote the sport of wushu in the state.
“The Johor Sukma will be our first major competition since the formation of the association,” he added.
Lee, who is also the team manager, said they were unable to compete in 2018 Perak Sukma as the association had just been established and their athletes did not have enough time to prepare for the Games.
“I think this time we are more prepared and we have listed five athletes to represent the state with four athletes competing in the Taolu discipline and one in Sanda,” he said.
The four Taolu exponents listed are Anson Chin Hung Ri (Chang Quan, Daoshu, Gunshu), Ericsson Bong ( Chang Quan, Daoshu, Gunshu), Siaw Ree Hang (Nanquan, Nandao, NanGun), and Kok Eugene (NanQuan, NanDao, NanGun), while Muhammad Haniff Abdullah is the sole representative in the Sanda (56 Kg).
The coaches are Lee Tsun Kee (Taolu), Ronald James Tee Chee Xiang and Fauzan Ahlal (Sanda).
Training sessions are held five days a week from Monday to Thursday and Saturday, beginning at 3pm to 6pm at Likas Stadium.