By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING May 20: The RM11.3 million new Wushu Training and Competition Centre at the Sarawak Sports Complex in Petra Jaya is set to be a game-changer for Sarawak wushu practitioners.
Sarawak Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Hamzah, said he is full of admiration for Wushu.
“I am not saying other athletes and sports have no discipline in their fields, but I found that Wushu practitioners through the years have been consistent. For the last ten years, they have been performing tremendously well.
“Sarawak’s Wushu team have been very disciplined in their sport and never failed to deliver us a gold medal in sporting events in the country and abroad.
“I feel Wushu athletes and those involved in the sport deserve the centre and the conducive hall to train and to hold competitions,” he said during a press conference after the earth-breaking ceremony at the proposed site of the centre today.
Abdul Karim shared how he saw the Wushu practitioners train at a centre that was not conducive and fit for their development.
“I feel that it is not quite right when these athletes train in a depleted centre, and I am adamant on giving them the best,” he said.
Abdul Karim said every sport in Sarawak must excel, but Wushu practitioners need the training centre to practice and further develop the sport.
“I am happy that after the earth-breaking ceremony, Wushu practitioners now have a place of their own. I hope the centre will be complete before the Sukma 2024 hosted by Sarawak.
“Once complete, this would be one of Malaysia’s best wushu halls and training centres,” he said.
Ministry permanent secretary Morshidi Frederick, Public Works Department (JKR) Sarawak director Richard Tajan, and Sarawak Wushu Federation president Allen Wong and deputy president James Ting were present during the event. — DayakDaily
