S. Selvam
July 7
THROUGH the timely intervention of Sports Minister Datuk Azalina Othman Said, the National Junior Taekwondo Championships were saved in May.
Now, another tournament — the Selangor International Taekwondo Championships — need Azalina’s intervention if they are to be successfully organised at Uniten in Bangi this weekend.
The National Junior Championships were postponed at the 11th hour by the Terengganu Taekwondo Association, a situation which left many parents and athletes disappointed and in the lurch.
However, through Azalina’s intervention, the meet was organised as scheduled.
"Athletes from Australia, Indonesia and New Zealand are already here.
"However, we have been asked to provide a letter from the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) to sanction the tournament," said Selangor Taekwondo Association (STA) secretary C.K. Karan yesterday.
"But we are not affiliated to the WTF and as such, we don’t correspond with them.
"And since the championships start on Saturday, we hope the Sports Commissioner’s office can give us the necessary approval."
Taekwondo’s governing body, under the WTF umbrella, the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA) was de-registered by Sports Commissioner Tan Sri Elyas Omar on May 6.
The MTA, however, has taken the matter to court.
However, according to the Sports Commissioner’s office, the power to approve the championships rests with the Sports Minister.
In fact Article 33 of the Sports Development Act, 1997 states that no person shall bid to host any international sports competition or event in Malaysia without the prior approval in writing of the minister whose decision thereon shall be final.
"The Sports Commissioner’s office has no objections as the championships are to foster goodwill and promote Selangor in particular and Malaysia in general as a tourist destination," said the official.
"In fact, I believe the tournament is part of the State Government’s programme for its ‘Selangor Maju’ campaign.
Source from http://www.nst.com.my
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