200 martial arts exponents to take part in a Wushu and Tang Soo Do competition

MIRI: Over 200 primary and secondary school students are expected to participate in the Miri Interschool Wushu and Tang Soo Do Competition on Aug 14.

Miri Wushu Association of Miri Division (MWAMD) chairman Tiong Ching Chiong attributed the large number to the increasing number of Bumiputera students joining MWAMD.

“The response from the primary school pupils and secondary school students especially from Bumiputeras such as the Malays and Ibans are overwhelming this year.

“In fact their numbers are more than the Chinese,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.

The tournament will serve to select athletes to represent Miri in the 3rd Sarawak Wushu, Lion and Dragon Dance competition later this year.

Tiong also pointed out that lack of funds has limited MWAMD’s wish to send its athletes to compete outside Sarawak.

“We had only sent them to compete in Brunei which is just across the border and some national level competitions such as in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur,” he said.

The association, he revealed, depended largely on Minor Rural Project (MRP) grant from the Senadin and Piasau state assemblymen, parents and their Parents and Teachers Association (PTA).

“We give the training for free.

Each athlete is welcome to the centre and we would train them with our best abilities because the main purpose of MWAMD is to produce best athletes especially in Wushu and Tang Soo Do,” he added. -TheBorneoPost