NANTONG — The Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) is exploring a potential sports development partnership with Nantong, China, a city known for producing world champions.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the idea was discussed in a meeting with Nantong’s Deputy Mayor, Yu Lizhong, focusing on establishing athlete training camps and inviting coaches from Nantong to Malaysia.
“Training camps are what we need for our sports, so Nantong is one of the destinations that we will be looking at,” Hannah said, adding that Malaysia already has Chinese coaches in diving, swimming, and wushu, and could benefit from expertise in other areas as well.
She also expressed hope that a partnership with Nantong, known as a “sports city,” would include initiatives to empower women in sports.
Hannah is in Nantong for the first Asean-China Wushu Championship, where 1,500 athletes from 10 Asean nations are competing, including 13 from Malaysia.
The event aims to strengthen sports diplomacy in the region and offers wushu athletes a platform to showcase their talent and gain valuable experience. — November 3, 2024