SEPAKTAKRAW in Singapore may have missed the recent Kuala Lumpur SEA Games and headed for a down-spin but the traditional sport is now set to soar higher and the next landing will be at the Olympic Games.
This was the bold promise of Singapore Sepaktakraw Federation (PERSES) President Abdul Halim Bin Kader after he won a rousing landslide win at the 48th Annual General Meeting for a new term of three years from 2017 to 2020.
A total of 19 affiliated members voted at PERSES Centre of Excellence at Bedok North Street 2. Halim’s team garnered a massive14-3 win with two absentions.
“There have been calls for a change but my team showed that we still have the stamina and longer-term foresight to lead sepaktakraw to greater heights in the years to come,” said the 66-year-old businessman, who also holds the position as the President of the Asian body, too.
In his address to the delegates, he thanked members for the “trust and support given to him in the past years”. He said that sepaktakraw is now at a crossroad and there is much work for PERSES to do in order to transform and bring the sport into the world stage which will culminate in it becoming an Olympic Sport.
NEW REVOLUTION
In this regard, he declared that a revolution is already taking place in the sport in terms of the standard of play, the rules of the game, the presentation of the court of play, sepaktakraw equipment to encourage young players in primary schools, audience experience and the standard of refereeing, which are befitting of a world sport.
His top priority now, moving forward is for the new team to close rank and work towards PERSES’s common objective.
He adds: “We shall analyse the strength of the new team and put in place strategies to succeed. I want to gather affiliates for feedbacks and to map out PERSES future directions and programmes.”
Mr Abdul Halim also extended his appreciation to Sport Singapore and Ministry of Culture Community and Youth (MCCY) for the grants provided for the development and high performance of sepaktakraw. He also thanked the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC) for their continuous support.
HARD WORK AHEAD
He assures: “PERSES will work closely with Sport Singapore, Ministry of Education through its Physical, Sports and Outdoor Education Branch, Institute of Education (ITE), NUSS The Graduate Club, MESRA, The People’s Association, and other stakeholders.
“Penetrating the evolving market of the sports world has given the sport of sepaktakraw a remarkable personality and a unique position to fans who seek entertainment with a phenomenal blend of a trapeze artist carrying aerial tricks and the flair of a volleyball-football-gymnastics combined act.”
Pushing the unique brand of sepaktakraw right to the door-steps of the Olympic Games will be a dream come true, using the critical components of social media.
He explains: “Social media features provide the behind the scene memories, fans giveaway contests, and live commentaries. The sepaktakraw tournament venue experience showcases colour identities in host continents. Logo consistency across all platforms exhibits sepaktakraw life.
“Games operation’s management also opens the doors to showcase the coordinated work of the people working behind the stage ensuring spectator appetite is met.”
“The Singapore Sepaktakraw Federation (PERSES) in collaboration with the International Sepaktakraw Federation (ISTAF) is now on center stage across all media platforms that has awakened sports fans around the globe of the extraordinary achievement our human body can do, yes, indeed, we can fly!”
The PERSES council members for 2017-2020:
LIFE PRESIDENT: ABDUL SARIP BIN NAHARAWI
PRESIDENT: ABDUL HALIM BIN KADER, BBM
DEPUTY PRESIDENT I: DSP MOHD NASRI BIN HARON
DEPUTY PRESIDENT II: FARIQ ABDUL HALIM
VICE PRESIDENT I: MOHD HEIKAL BIN MOHD YUSOPE
VICE PRESIDENT II: RAHAMAT BIN MOHD EUSOFF
VICE PRESIDENT III: MESWAN BIN SATIN
SECRETARY GENERAL: RAIMON BIN BUDIN
TREASURER: LETCHMENON MARIAPPAN
ASSISTANT TREASURER: TENGKU AZAN SHAH TENGKU INDRA
COUNCIL MEMBERS: DSP SHAHRIL ABDUL GHANI, TERRY FERNANDEZ, MOHAMAD FAMI BIN MOHAMED, MAJOR (NS) ZAHID ABDUL AZIZ
INTERNAL AUDITORS: ABDUL JALIL KUNIMIN, OSMAN ARIFFIN
Three more members of the council will be co-opted as Council Members as stated in the PERSES Constitution. – SURESH NAIR
