DEVELOPMENT: Qualified instructors and coaches at all the training centres
GEORGE TOWN: GOOD news for disabled people in Penang who are keen on sports. The Penang Youth and Sports Department will actively promote and develop sports for them.
The success of Malaysia's handicapped athletes at international level has to more initiatives from the Youth and Sports Ministry.
State Youth and Sports Department director Abd Jalil A. Rashid said in conjunction with the ministry's directives, the sports development programme for the visually impaired, physically disabled, hearing impaired, amputees and others, has to be developed further.
"The department, with the cooperation of the Persatuan Sukan dan Rekreasi Orang Kurang Upaya Pulau Pinang (Pesron), has set up training centres in the island and the mainland for the benefit of the OKU's.
"We have started with six sports: athletics, swimming, tenpin bowling, lawn bowling, boccia and wheelchair tennis.
"We have qualified instructors and coaches at all the training centres and we hope that the concerned parents will send their children to the centres for training," he said after handing over sports training equipment, worth about RM15,000, to schools and homes.
Present during the ceremony were Pesron president, Associate Professor Dr Tiun Ling Ta, who ia also the Persatuan Sukan dan Rekreasi Orang Kurang Upaya Malaysia (Mesron) president and the State Youth and Sports Department officer in charge of OKU, Kho Chin Hong.
Abd Jalil said the equipment is to help encourage disabled people to participate in sports, and encourage a sports culture among the OKU community.
The equipment were given to SMK Permatang Tok Jaya, SMK Alma, SMK Sungai Nibong, Sekolah Pendidikan Khas Tanjung Bunga, Pusat Kanak Kanak Spastik Pulau Pinang and Cheshire Home Penang.
The training venues and the coaches for the sports are: tenpin bowling at Ampang Superbowl Bowling Centre in Summit Bukit Mertajam with coach Larry Selvam (019-411 0072), swimming at Seberang Jaya public pool with coach Teoh Chee Seng (019-422 4323) and the Permata Swimming Complex, Air Itam with coach Kwong Kong Thye (019-446 3096), athletics at the St Nicholas Home in Jalan Bagan Jermal, Penang, SMK Alma in Bukit Mertajam, SMK Sungai Nibong and SM Pendidikan Khas Tanjung Bungah with coach Chan Bee Tin (013-433 4077), athletics and petanque at SMK Permatang Tok Jaya, lawn bowling at Youth and Sports Complex in Batu Uban with coach Sukiman Untong (012-412 0762), boccia at Pusat Kanak Kanak Spastik Pulau Pinang with coach Joseph Pragasam (013-435 2603) and wheelchair tennis at Youth and Sports Complex in Batu Uban with coordinator Tai Boon Seng (012-481 2113).
Jalil said although Pesron was managed and run by people from the disabled community, the association still needs many helpers and volunteers, especially able bodied volunteers, including coaches and caretakers.
Those interested in participating in the sports and those interested in helping the handicapped community can contact the State Youth and Sports Department at 04-655 4444 or Pesron president Dr Tiun at 013-430 2096.
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