SELANGOR: Sarawak’s historic water polo golden double at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) XXII has sparked plans to expand the sport beyond Kuching, with Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu calling for a wider talent pool across the state.
Following the men’s and women’s title triumphs over hosts Selangor, Rentap said the success proved Sarawak’s water polo development programme was on the right track.
“It means our Sarawak water polo training and programme have been effective, and we want to improve them further,” he told reporters.
He said the next step was to broaden participation by encouraging more youngsters from divisions outside Kuching to take up the sport.
“We want to put more emphasis on other divisions, so that we don’t only have players from Kuching.
“If more people join water polo, it will be much better. We need to get a pool so we can identify who is best to be in the team,” he said.
Rentap believes Sarawak’s future in the sport is bright, noting that the youngest member of the current squad is just 14 years old.
“Mind you, they are still very young. The youngest is 14 years old. It means the future for us is very bright. Hopefully, we get more people,” he said.
He added that the state’s success could pave the way for more Sarawak athletes to earn national selection.
“SEA Games, we are putting this water polo into the SEA Games, so by that time, I’m sure some of our Sarawakian athletes will be in the national team,” he said.
Rentap also praised the players and coaches for their discipline and tactical maturity.
“They managed to slow down and also play smartly. There’s a lot of thought. You’re not just jumping into the pool and playing like that. You have to strategise,” he said.
Looking ahead, Rentap hopes the double gold marks the beginning of a resurgence for a sport that once made Sarawak a national powerhouse.
“So now we want to bring it back,” he said.
