KUCHING: Sarawak wants to hire former national boxing champion Sapok Biki to whip the Sukma 2020 squad into shape. Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) CEO and MSN Sarawak director Dr Ong Kong Swee confirmed this yesterday. “I had a discussion with Major Sapok Biki about him helping Sarawak — as the head coach for the Sukma 2020 team,” said Dr Ong.
Sapok is currently serving in the Malaysian army as a Major, and it is understood that the Sarawak Boxing Association will be assisting MSN to expedite his appointment.
“We welcome the news of Sapok’s appointment with open arms as he has always been willing to help us in the past and he already advises our elite team from time to time,” said Sarawak Boxing Association president Datuk Rahman Lariwoo.
Dr Ong explained that Sarawak is serious in all sports, including boxing, and SSC have made ready training centres throughout Sarawak, including the elite boxing training centre at the State Stadium.
“We have set up a number of centres from development level to the excellence level, all the way up to elite level so infrastructure-wise, we are coping with the needs.”
Both Dr Ong and Rahman confirmed having discussions with Sapok over the past few days and both anticipate his appointment once the standard operating
procedures had been taken
accordingly.
Dr Ong also confirmed that he would be meeting with Sapok at the soonest time possible to iron out the details of his appointment.
Sapok struck gold in the light flyweight category in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. He also represented the nation at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
