By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, April 26: The sport of taekwondo will be included in the 2024 Malaysia Games (Sukma) hosted by Sarawak.
Deputy Minister of Youth And Sports Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu said he is glad for taekwondo’s return to the national games as Sarawak athletes tend perform well in the sport, citing the regional team’s 2022 Premier Cup outing.
“Before this, if I m not wrong, there was an issue (on why the sport was left out). The National Sports Council (NSC) and Malaysian World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) had issues over registration matters.
“This time, it is good news that the sport of taekwondo will return in the Sukma game in Sarawak as there are 30 medals to be won in the event.
“If Sarawak is confident about it, then it is something worthwhile for us to see,” he told reporters at a press conference when asked to comment about taekwondo’s inclusion in Sukma 2024 at a press conference today for the STF Gawai Dayak Open House and Parade 2023 which will be held on June 9 to 11, at Rumah Anyie Rajit at Matop, Betong.
Rentap said the sport had to be included, as it is an important sport and it has been absent for a long time from Sukma.
“It was excluded three times, and what about the exponents in the sports? It is a recognised sport in the world and we have to bring it back,” he said.
Sukma is held once every two years. — DayakDaily
