Patrick Joseph

BINTULU: Persatuan Taekwondo Gabungan Sarawak (PTGS) of Bintulu division is sending two exponents to compete in the British Open Taekwondo Championship scheduled from Oct 31 to Nov 1 this year in Scotland.
In an excusive interview Monday, the PTGS Bintulu head coach, Pui Jak Joon told ET they were Andy Wong, 14, and Mohd Shamin, 16, both students of SMK Bintulu.
“We will start off with a joint training session with one of the taekwondo clubs there from Oct 28 before the competition proper,” he said befpre leaving for Scotland recently.
The duo, according to him were chosen based on their golden harvest in several national championships such as the Malaysian Inter-Club 2008 and National Open championship held in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka Open 2009, Borneo Cup 2007 and the Sarawak Closed 2009.
Asked whether the trip was sponsored, he replied, “It is all under the PTGS Bintulu.”
Pui added that the competition and training venue will be in Scotland.
On how PTGS here got invited to the tournament Pui said, “I have been involved in taekwondo for 20 years now and I have many contacts and friends. It is easy to communicate because we have the internet facilities. One of the taekwondo clubs in England specially invited us to take part with the assurance that they train my boys as well once we arrive there,” said Pui.
He also said that the invitation would be an exposure for his charges and himself.
“We were promised of a joint training under a Korean coach and I too will be able to gain some first hand knowledge on the technicality and expertise,” he added. “It is something like a study tour for us, but if they win any medal then it will be a bonus,” he said adding that the duo would be competing in their respective age group categories.
Pui added that they would also take the opportunity to promote Bintulu and Sarawak. “I heard there are also teams from Peninsular Malaysia going to compete too, and some from Thailand,” he said.