Opening of Kiara Skatepark crucial to groom talent - Coach
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19 -- The skateboarding community hails the Youth and Sports Ministry’s announcement to open the Kiara Skatepark to the public once upgrading works are completed next month.
Malaysia Skate Federation (MYSKATE) coach, Joseph Romey Dures said the move is important to identify and groom more talents in the extreme sport, which has made its way into the Paris 2024 Olympics.
“My concern is, if this place is not opened up, we would lose the chance to groom the talents. When we have enough time to groom a talent, we might have the chance to bring them to the Olympics.
“We want to build and groom the talents for international events, like the Olympics, hopefully one day,” he said, while adding that MYSKATE will soon lay out programmes to develop talents towards the Paris 2024.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu after visiting the Bukit Kiara extreme sports complex yesterday, announced that the complex which has been closed since 2019, will be open to the public and skateboarders soon as the restoration work was in the final stage.
The renovation of Kiara Skatepark, which was originally built in 2006, included repairing existing ramps, the construction of new ramps with the latest designs and is expected to be completed by next month to welcome the extreme sports enthusiasts, including skateboarders and BMX riders.
Joseph, who is tasked mainly on creating community engagement, unearth new talents and coaching beginners, said due to the closure of Kiara Skatepark, the sport fraternities had to opt to train at the Shah Alam Extreme Park, Putrajaya Challenge Park and other public spaces.
“During the two-year park closure, the national training programme was halted. During the pandemic it is difficult for skating, its only just recently we could play skateboarding, and a lot of parents are still paranoid to bring their kids to socialise.
“But it is picking up. With the right standard operating procedures between the students and coaches, I am quite confident we can keep on coaching,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
