KUCHING: The Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) Sarawak Junior Badminton Circuit (SJBC) 2021/2022 was a great success with a total of 595 participants taking part in the nine series that was held all over Sarawak this year.
SSC SJBC organising chairman cum Kuching Badminton Association (KBA) President Dr Ong Kong Swee added that the nine series have achieved the main objective which is to develop the badmintongrassroots for all junior players in Sarawak as young as nine years old.
“This will give the grassroots the opportunity to compete in many competitions as part of their journeys towards the developments of their growth and badminton at an early stage.
“The junior badminton circuit is unique in a way that only singles matches are contested and the participants get to play as many matches as they can and gain ranking points through it, with no coaching from their parents and coaches, and without match referees or judges.
“This helped to instil discipline, good sportsmanship and confidence in them and trains them to be independent players.”
“The SSC SJBC Series focuses on the development of grassroots badminton in Sarawak in line with the sports science approach and application to having fun in the game and training, character building and long-term training development,” Ong said.
Sarawak Sports Corporation Head of Sports Development Division Ahmad Rodzli Hashim has confirmed that the top 12 players of each category (boys and girls U15, U13 and U11) will qualify to play in the Grand Final which is scheduled to be held on January 14-15, 2023.
The venue of the Grand Final will be the Multipurpose Hall in Petra Jaya, Kuching and the official prize giving ceremony held on January 15, 2023 will be done by the Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development of Sarawak Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Those who qualified for the grand final for each category will be notified as soon as possible through the email and they will have to register andconfirm their participation by December 28 with the registration being free.
Qualified participants that did not register in time will be replaced by players that are ranked below them.
All qualified participants will receive grand final certificates and special T shirts for the final.
A total prize pool of RM6,000 in vouchers will be up for grabsfor the participants.
Meanwhile, Dr Ong added that the SSC Badminton Junior Circuits 2023 will begin in March 2023.
“The first venue to start off the circuits in 2023 will be inMukah follow up by Sri Aman.
“There was an overwhelming request from other divisions to have the circuits at their divisions.
“KBA and SSC have already made plans for the circuits and more details will be announced soon,” Ong concluded.
