By Tedong Rantayy
MIRI, Feb 18: Sarawak is keen to unearth new talents amongst persons with disabilities in various sport events for the upcoming Para Sukan Malaysia 2024 (Para Sukma).
Sarawak is scheduled to host the upcoming Para Sukma from Sept 21 to 29.
According to Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, the State government via her ministry has identified 10 sport events for persons with disabilities, giving opportunities for individuals with different abilities to participate and showcase their talents.
“Besides Boccia, we have identified swimming, badminton and athletics for persons with disabilities in Sarawak to showcase their talents,” she told local media here today after launching Wishesland Miri Boccia Hall.
The hall which was built at a cost of RM250,000 was made possible, with a State government grant via Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew’s Rural Transformation Programme (RTP).
The grant is being used to build Wishesland Miri’s Boccia Hall and to beautify Wishes Magick Garden.
The boccia court will be the first in Sarawak which meets Boccia International Sport Federation requirements.
Fatimah disclosed, this year, the Sarawak boccia team is targeting four gold medals in the coming Para Sukma in Kuching, Sarawak.
“In the last Para Sukma 2022 held in Kuala Lumpur, we won two golds; one silver and three bronzes,” she said, adding that currently the Sarawak boccia team has five Sarawak boccia athletes based in Miri, and they will use Wishesland Miri’s Boccia Hall to train,” she said.
Fatimah disclosed that as part of the Sarawak boccia team’s Para Sukma 2024 preparations, a total of 18 athletes and officials will be going to Chungju, Chung Cheong Bok-Do, South Korea in April 2024 for a week’s training and friendly matches with South Korean boccia athletes.
During the last Talent Identification Development programme conducted by Sarawak Welfare Department together with Sarawak Sports and Youth Department, three Wishesland Miri members were selected to be trained as reserve team members for the Sarawak boccia team.
They are are Chai Kian Yu, Rilly Pillo and Kavin Lenjau Wan.
All 3 compete in the BC3 male category.
Presently, Wishesland Miri has a member, Tay Boon Seng, who is a national boccia champion.
Tay will represent Sarawak at Para Sukma 2024 in Kuching in the BC2 Male and BC1/BC2 Team events.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew-cum-Piasau assemblyman, Wishesland Miri Advisor-cum-Sarawak Boccia Association president Chi Poh Yung and Wishesland Miri founder Katherine Chai Fung Ling. — DayakDaily
