BY LYNCH COWAN
KUCHING: Sarawak Elite Athlete Training Centre will be set up in Kuching to hold long-term training for Sarawak’s handicapped athletes (OKUs) who have the potentials to win the gold medal at the Malaysian Deaf Games or simply the Sopma and Para Sukma Johor 2020 and the opportunity to represent the country.
According to the Assistant Minister of Community Welfare, Datuk Francis Harden during his speech at the launching ceremony of the OKUs Sports and Recreations Programme, for a start a total of 20 disabled persons will be selected based on merit to undergo training at the centre.
He said the athletes will be paid for pocket money and accommodation during training, while four qualified trainers will be selected to handle training with training fees and selected athletes from outside Kuching will be offered to come to Kuching for training at the centre.
He said the athletes were prepared for the Sopma and Para Sukma 2020 teams and have need for early preparation for both teams.
Meanwhile, Harden said the coach training centres in all parts of Sarawak, 12 in number, will also be established to introduce recreational and sports activities to disabled persons.
Two trained drivers will be assigned to arrange activities at the established training centre and they will report to the Disabled Development Unit at the ministry.
He said in 2018 Sarawak’s Sukma and Sopma teams had many young athletes with potentials to take over senior athletes.
“They can succeed with persistent training and ongoing efforts,” said Hardin, adding that all disabled athletes who wanted to take part in competitions at the national level should plan and prepare well.
He said the disabled athletes who participated in the Sopma 2020 and Sukma 2020 competitions had to qualify while new athletes would be exposed if they saw a lot of potential and almost reached the minimum qualification.
According to Harden, Sarawak’s OKU athletes will participate in state, national and international competitions for exposure and classification.
“The athlete who will be sent to the competitions must have enough training and potentially.
Harden also announced the Sarawak Special Olympics (Special Olympics State Games) to be held in Sibu by 2020. The Special Olympics Sibu Chapter has a two-year period from now to designing and preparing.
“As proven by the Kuching Chapter, I’m confident that the Sibu Chapter will also take this responsibility with enthusiasm and commitment to uphold the Special Olympics Games in Sarawak, especially, and Malaysia in general,” he said.
Harden said that the ministry had held discussions with the Paralympic Division at the Malaysian National Sports Council earlier this year and that MSN Malaysia will assist disabled people development programmes in sports.
“MSN Malaysia will help to pay full-time coaches, part-time coaches and actors appointed officially to conduct training in Kuching. Apart from that, basic sports tools will also be provided based on the application.”
He said MSN Malaysia would also assist Sarawak’s OKU athletes to qualify for the circuitry by sponsoring several airline tickets and promoting and enhancing the involvement of the disabled in recreation and sports.
Sarawak emerged as Para Sukma champions in Ipoh, Perak in November 2018 and also as the 13th consecutive champions since 1994
These athletes achievements in the 19th edition of Para Sukma were great because Sarawak earned 163 medals consisting of 61 gold, 62 and 40 bronze medals.
