SIBU: The Sarawak Sukma volleyball team has been preparing thoroughly for the upcoming Sukma Games.
They had organised several training trips to Thailand, planned a trip to Taiwan, and will be hosting an international invitational as part of their quest for the two gold medals at stake.
The team participated in an Under-19 tournament in Bangkok, Thailand, from April 16 to 25, and will embark on a trip to Taiwan from May 28 to December 7.
Sarawak will also organise an international invitational volleyball championship in Sibu, with 18 teams expected to participate. These include teams from Singapore, two Thai club teams, and an Under-19 Australian team. The team from the Philippines has yet to confirm their participation.
Assistant coach Stephanie Law Fen Nie said that Sarawak would include a team from Johor, which won gold in the women’s category at the last Sukma.
However, they would not invite other state teams to avoid revealing too many of their strategies.
Law recently returned from the United States (US), where she studied sports-related subjects such as sports healing and sports massage. She has been applying the strategies and tactical plays learned in the US to help the Sarawak team.
In the Thai tournament, which was an Under-18 competition, there were 32 women’s club teams and 42 men’s teams. Compared to the last Sukma, the team is better prepared and has improved significantly with the employment of a Thai coach.
To strengthen their team, Sarawak has engaged Thai coach Sanong Kulchim, who trains the players daily at the Sibu Volleyball Court in Rajang Park.
Law, a former national player and outside spiker, said that the Sarawak team is well-prepared, with six players who participated in the previous Sukma and a new lineup for the rest.
She pointed out two standout players, Britney Tie and Moh Sheay Jun, both 20, who performed exceptionally well in Thailand.
“The Sarawak Volleyball Association plans to let Britney, who hails from the famous volleyball school Tung Hua, play in the Taiwan League, while Sheay Jun will compete in the US,” she said.
Law believed the team has improved significantly following their tour of Thailand.
“We are confident of doing well this Sukma,” she said. “In the Thai tournament, which was an Under-19 competition, the 32 women’s and 42 men’s teams were highly competitive.”
Besides improving their physical play, Law aimed to instil a sporting mindset in the players.
“Volleyball is about teamwork,” she said. “The difference with US players is that they always want to learn more, and they have a strong sports system. Volleyball taught me a lot about teamwork and mindset.”
Law credited her uncle, Dato Moh, for encouraging her to study in the US and learn about the modern game.
“I played in the varsity club teams at California State University in Los Angeles,” she said.
As the assistant coach, Law believed the players need to acquire knowledge in sports science, including muscle nutrition, sports healing and massage.
“I will impart this knowledge to the players,” she added.
