SEA Games: Malaysia's Surfing Squad Seeks Waves In Bali

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 1 (Bernama) -- Indonesia's leading island resort, Bali will be soon the destination of the Malaysian surfing squad as the final training ground for the SEA Games in the Philippines from Nov 30 to Dec 11. According to Malaysia Surfing Association, Bali was chosen as there are no suitable waves at the training centre in Cherating, Pahang until the Northeast monsoon which usually starts in November. Team manager, Muhammad Faisal Daud said national surfers were also sent to join competition overseas to expose them to tournament pressure and intensity as surfing will be making its debut in the biennial championship. “Surfing is a sport which depends on waves and in Malaysia, it only occurs in July and from November to February. Since early this year, we have been training abroad and focus on fitness training in the gym. “Our surfers are showing good improvement and could compete with other challengers. We have to also face mother nature but we are prepared for all possibilities,” he told a Team Malaysia media conference at the National Sports Council (NSC) here Monday. He said Malaysia will be sending five surfers to compete in three categories, namely men's and women's shortboard as well as men's longboard with the hope of winning a medal in each of the events in which Muhammad Didaqt Mussaddiq and Mohd Nazrin Nasruddin are medal prospects. As preparations, the surfers had participated in several series of training and competitions such as Tioman Surf Festival, Thailand, Batu Karas and Bali in Indonesia as well as India and Sri Lanka with the assistance of several organisations. -- BERNAMA