SportExcel stretched but still going

24/11/2001

Grassroots back to school
SPORTEXCEL is 10 years old this year and there are no plans to widen its
scope of programmes, because it is stretched to the maximum on the shoe-
string budget that it is running on.
"We have done wonders in the past 10 years as far as grassroots sport is
concerned in the country. We never had enough money, but it did not stop
us from identifying athletes, with help from associations, in our circuits
and forwarding their names to the National Sports Council for further
action," said SportExcel Chairman Tunku Imran Tuanku Ja'afar.
Potential athletes spotted at the SportExcel circuits have gone on to
win honours for the country and the recent success of the Kuala Lumpur Sea
Games, where Malaysia emerged as the overall champions with 111 gold
medals, could not have been achieved without the silent role played by
SportExcel.
"Our circuits have been instrumental in providing school children with
opportunity to compete among themselves at a higher level and not just
depend on school or inter-school sports.
"And after they are discoverd we gladly hand them over to the NSC for
the next phase in their lives.
"I don't forsee a change in that pattern because we are more than happy
just to provide a wide base of athletes for the country. Our strategy has
been successful so far so we will not rock the boat," said Tunku Imran.
What if SportExcel has money in the future?
"Still we will continue with the grassroots level and maybe increase the
present grant of RM5,000 per athlete to RM10,000," said Tunku Imran.
TimeSport approached some of the associations that have benefitted from
SportExcel and this is what they had to say:
Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia: "The 2001 circuit has provided an
opportunity for smaller states to organise proper swimming meets and has
also given a platform to `second rate' swimmers to excel.
"We have also uncovered upcoming swimmers like Daniel Bego, Abdul Hui
Salleh, Tunku Samira, Tania Lee and Gloria Ooi through the circuit," said
NSAM secretary Bang Toh Hoo.
"The present budget for the circuit, RM4,000 per-leg is far from
sufficient, but better than nothing. The money helps states with low
budgets to meet ends."
Lawn Tennis Association of Malaysia: "Tennis was placed under the
SportExcel umbrella last year and it has helped devise LTAM's national
juniors ranking system.
"From the start, the circuit became very popular with players and
parents and became an integral part of LTAM's calendar," said LTAM vice-
president Datuk Abdul Malik Mohamed Salleh.
"After two years, it was obvious that the SportExcel circuit has
enormously benefitted our juniors because it gives them another five
tournamants to play in a year.
"Although the tennis circuit is only two years old, we have players from
the circuit who have shown promise. The best example is Adam Jaya who is
only 16-years-old but has already played a round of the Davis Cup and won
bronze for Malaysia in the 2001 Kuala Lumpur Sea Games," said Abdul Malik.
"The SportExcel circuit also introduced players like Dannio Yahya,
Moahmed Nor Nordin, Nikesh Singh, Junior Tan, Justion Seow, Raj Dormani
and Roger Tan.
Malaysian Cricket Association: "SportExcel's assistance in the Under-15
circuit has formed the backbone of our present Under-19 squad which took
part in the World Cup Qualifier in Nepal.
"The entire Under-19 team came from the Under-15 SportExcel circuit and
we feel that it must go on as it is the only serious tournament for this
age-group and has proven, by its track record, to unearth talent," said
MCA executive secretary Hector Durairatnam.
New and prodigious talent discovered by the circuit are: 1 Mohamed
Ariffin Ramly (Negri, best batsman), 2 Eszrafiq Abdul Azis (Johor, best
all-rounder), 3 Maxwell Stephen (Sarawak, best all-rounder), 4 Hairil
Anuar (Johor, best wicket keeper), 5 Mohamed Shariq Ahmad (Kedah, best
bowler).
Malaysian Tenpin Bowling Congress: "The SportExcel circuit has greatly
helped promote and develop young bowlers throughout the country, because
about 90 per cent of our current national squad came from the junior
circuits and some of them are Shalin Zulkifli, Sarah Yap, Lai Kin Ngoh,
Wendy Chai, Ben Heng, Alex Liew, Lai Chuein Lian, Mustapha Kamaruddin,"
said MTBC executive secretary Oh Eng Taik.
"The circuit must go on as it provides us with some financial assistance
which is vital for youth development and the only `problem' right now is
that due to overwhelming response from youth bowlers, some of the smaller
bowling venues do not have sufficient lanes to run the circuit in two
days."
Squash Racquets Association of Malaysia: "It seems like we started the
SportExcel circuit just recently, but it has been going on for nine
successful years after its launch in 1993.
"We started with three divisions of 16 players in the under-19 (boys and
girls) and the under-16 (boys) and the inaugural circuit attracted
athletes from Australia, Pakistan, India, Hong Kong and Singapore," said
SRAM director of coaching Maj (r) S. Maniam.
"All our current top players grew up with the circuit so it is without a
shadow of doubt that the SportExel junior circuit contributed immensely to
the success of squash in the country."
* jugjet@nstp.com.my Quote of the day: The farther back you can look, the farther forward you
can see - Sir Winston Churchill
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