Good news for wushu

KUCHING: It would be an easier task to scout for potential talents when wushu is included as an event in the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) competition and listed in the school curriculum of primary and secondary schools, starting next year.

Wushu Association of Sarawak (WAS) secretary James Ting said yesterday that this was because if all the schools included wushu in their curriculum, a very big pool of young wushu exponents would be created.
“This certainly augurs well for development of the sport not only in Sarawak but in the whole country because we can produce more exponents of good calibre,” he said.
Ting, who is also WAS chief coach, went on to say that he expected stiffer competition among the exponents to earn places in the state and national squads.
“We need to organise more coaching courses where we will invite the teachers in-charge of wushu to attend,” he added.


According to Ting, the move to include wushu in the school curriculum was a right one because the traditional Chinese martial arts, apart from helping to instill high discipline in the students, also teaches them self-defence and strengthens their body as well as boosting their self-confidence.
Wushu was included as a new event in MSSM two years ago, but not fully implemented in all states.
Presently, there is one Elite Centre based in Kuching with 21 trainees including nine women, 62 trainees at the Centres of Excellence in Kuching (30), Sibu (20) and Miri (12) and more than 1,000 trainees in Centres of Development throughout the state.
In Kuching alone, there are 17 primary and secondary schools involved in the wushu development programme.
Meanwhile, Ting said Sarawak would be sending a 21-member wushu team including nine officials to Sukma XIII in Melaka next month.
The men exponents are Loh Jack Chang, Lau Hui Wei, Donny Tay, Chan Soon Cong, Gjeblehim Bong and Chung Tze Wei while the women’s team comprise Ho Jong Xian and her sister Jong Chan, Bong Yie Ching, Fiona Tan, Kimberly Goh and Amelia Su.
Two reserves, Clement Yeo and Byran Sony Lah will also follow the team to the Games. The team will be accompanied by WAS president who is also Bintulu MP Dato Seri Tiong King Sing, Ting (James), team manager William Kong, China coach Huang Shaoxiong and coaches Wong Hua Yiing, Tiong Ching Chiong and Alvin Foo, and two judges Choo Hong Wei and Choong Wei Li.
Wushu offers 20 gold medals with 10 each for the men and women events which will be competed from June 9-11.
At the last Sukma in Terengganu in 2008, Sarawak won eight gold, five silver and six bronze medals.
The state wushu team will depart to Melaka on June 7.

source: Borneo Post Online