| SportExcel operates two programs - the elite athletic assistance program and the Malaysian junior circuit. Through these programs, SportExcel provides assistance to the country's most promising sportsmen and sportswomen.
It is pertinent to point out that, only SportExcel operates such an incentive program when compared to other sports bodies. But SportExcel sees itself as not competing with the national sports associations but merely complementing their role.
This is the same with the National Sports Council with whom SportExcel works in close liaison in respect of all programs. It is the intention of SportExcel to ensure that what it is doing dovetails with the aspirations of the NSC for the development of Malaysian sport.
For this reason, the NSC also sees SportExcel as an organisation meeting an important need in Malaysian sport.
This assistance scheme has been much welcomed by all the national associations associated with SportExcel and moreso by the athletes and their parents in the case of juniors.
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ELITE ATHLETIC ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Each year SportExcel provides the young elite performer or potential high performance athletic with financial assistance to defray costs associated with their training and competition programs. The grant components are:
(a) accommodation costs during training and competition at home and aborad
(b) transport and travel for training and competition at home and abroad
(c) access to sports science and sports medical services
(d) coaching fees
Amongst those athletes who have benefited from the elite athlete assistance program have been bowler Shalin Zulkifli, Ong Beng Hee and Nicol David of squash, Ben Leong of golf and Arul Suppiah of cricket.
In the case of Arul Suppiah, it was SportExcel who arranged for and partly supported his studies at the Millfield School in England. Arul now plays Cricket for the Sommerset County - an achievement SportExcel can take pride in. Another beneficiary is Ben Leong who had a stint at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Florida.
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JUNIOR CIRCUIT PROGRAM
SportExcel firmly believes that the future of Malaysian sport lies in the strategy of having organized and sustained programs for juniors.
Towards this end, SportExcel initiated and now implement the junior circuits for 13 sports - golf, squash, bowling, cycling, shooting, cricket, swimming, diving, rhythmic gymnastics and artistic gymnastics, tennis, sepak-takraw and athletics. For the record, the first of the junior circuits was that for golf, launched in 1992.
The circuits are very well received by the participating juniors who are often accompanied by their parents as they make their "rounds". Media interest in the circuit in also high as it often mirrors emerging talent.
SportExcel is confident that the circuits will continue to provide the motivation for Malaysian junior athletics to train and remain competitive throughout the season.
The circuits provide an useful platform for all the juniors to also hone their skills on a year round basis through the sustained and high level of competition.
A program of this nature is a rarity in many countries throughout the world. The junior circuits are showing every indication that they will become not just more competitive but also showcase in time the best of emerging talent in the various sport.
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OTHER PROGRAMS
Since 1995, SportExcel has been organizing the Asia-Pacific Junior Match-Play Golf Championship. This event has attracted the participation of juniors from as far as New Zealand and Taiwan.
The competition has also given Malaysian juniors an opportunity to pit their skills against other talent of quality from the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, the tournament has helped talented juniors in the region to use the event as a stepping stone to greater glory, to become stars in their own right. |
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