By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, July 24: Sarawak Climbing Association president Denis Tan’s interest in wall climbing began 7 years ago as he was captivated by the physical and mental challenge of the sport.
It also spurred Tan to seek out and help develop local climbing communities and facilities.
“With attraction to the sport steadily growing in Kuching and Sarawak and the opening of another climbing gym in Miri (Top Climb), we can see enthusiasts are very passionate, and the community is quite supportive of it,” he told DayakDaily in an interview.
“Today we are proud that we have seen a significant increase in the number of people taking up climbing, ranging from young children to adults,” he added.
Tan said he was delighted with the overwhelmingly positive responses and the growing number of people who appreciate the unique physical and mental benefits that climbing offers.
“We formed an association for the sport with the main objectives being to promote sport climbing (both indoor and outdoor), provide proper training and facilities, and organise events to foster a competitive spirit.
“We aim to develop the sport by working together with the local and federal ministries and sporting bodies governing this sport,” he explained.
Tan said that they could see huge potential in climbing as a competitive sport where local talent can shine on national and perhaps one-day international stages.
“In this, we work closely with the Youth and Sports Department (JBS) as well as Majlis Sukan Negeri Sarawak (MSNS) and Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC),” he said.
Tan further explained that working with government sports agencies would give them more opportunities to look for talent.
He said that Sarawak has a lot of untapped talent in climbing and the State could excel in the sport with sufficient attention and support to develop athletes.
“We have already identified several promising young climbers who show great potential. The future looks bright as more people are introduced to the sport.
He is optimistic that with continued support and development, the association can produce climbers who could compete at higher levels, including international competitions.
Photo credit KlimbZone
Tan is hopeful that more young people and potential athletes could join as the sport is affordable.
“If compared to golf, tennis or badminton, for example, this sport is a lot cheaper. All you need is a pair of climbing shoes and some chalk. So in that sense, it is a very affordable sport to get into.”
He elaborated, that they try to work to make it more accessible through the climbing association by providing affordable options.
He added the Sarawak government has shown interest and support, especially in recognising climbing as a potential sport for nurturing future athletes.
“We hope to secure more funding and support to develop the sport further. Government agencies like SSC could set aside more budget for new facilities.”
As a gym owner (KlimbZone) and SCA president, Tan wants to strike a balance between commercial viability and accessibility.
He opined that making the sports commercial helps sustain the facilities and programmes while keeping them open to the public ensures they can discover and nurture new talent.
“Our goal was to create a sustainable model where the sport can thrive and continuously produce competitive athletes.”
Tan disclosed owning a climbing gym is a significant investment, both financially and in terms of time and effort.
“But since we have collaborated with the government on various initiatives to promote climbing and start the gym, it allowed us to successfully train several climbers who have gone on to compete in local and national competitions.”
He is confident that with continued support from the government, they will produce even more competitive athletes and future champions for Sarawak.
“Incidentally, Sarawak currently has one of the best youth female climbers in Malaysia,” he revealed.
Tan hopes to see sports climbing become a well-recognised and popular sport in Sarawak.
“For the gym and the association, I hope we can continue to grow and provide top-notch facilities and training for climbers of all levels.”
He added since Sarawak is blessed with many suitable areas for outdoor climbing, he hopes to be able to develop these areas with the help of the government.
“This could tremendously increase the tourism currently enjoyed by places such as Krabi (Thailand), Thakhek (Laos), Yangshuo (China) and a score of other places famous for outdoor climbing.”
Tan envisions a future where Sarawak is known for producing competitive climbers who compete and excel on the international stage, as well as a well-known outdoor climbing destination for climbing enthusiasts around the world.
“Ultimately, I want to see climbing contribute to the health and well-being of our community, fostering a culture of fitness, resilience, and camaraderie,” he said. — DayakDaily
