From
Courtesy: www.emedia.com.my

Sport Check:
Youth and veterans to benefit from "Sport for All"

Dan Guen Chin

Jan 11:
THE Sports for All policy will be introduced by the Sports Ministry to instil a new culture into the Malaysian sporting scene.

For so long, sports supremo Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein said, the emphasis was on gold medals and national pride but a new direction will be charted from now on.

"It's time we move away from the elite and high performance sports. They are well taken care of and sports is not only about winning medals and representing the country.

"A new direction is needed and the "Sports for All" policy could provide a boost for Malaysian sports and maybe it will, at the end of the day, provide the National Sports Council a wider base to scout for new talents too," said Hishammuddin.

And the Sports Ministry, according to Hishammuddin, will target four groups  the paralympics, veterans, women and the youth  when implementing the new policy.

"And for a start we are looking at the mass participation of Malaysians from all walks of life in bowling, football and badminton, the three traditional sports which enjoy huge popularity in the country.

"And maybe from there, there will be more Shalin Zulklifi (bowling) in the making. And more Wong Choong Hann in badminton," said Hishammuddin.

A deeper look at the so called new generation sports, like rock climbing and skateboarding is also part of the agenda.

So too is water sports, especially the non-motorised one, like canoeing and kayaking. Futsal or indoor soccer is also on the list.

"We have to attract the younger generation to be active in sports and to do so we probably have to go to them to find out what they are interested in," added Hishammuddin.