FOR Loke Chun Yang, basketball is more than just a sport. It has shaped him into the person he is today.
He was never much of a bookworm, so a friend’s invitation to join the school basketball team at the age of 11 offered him a different path – one that shaped his personality and gave him a sense of purpose.
“Basketball always seemed easier to me than studying,” said the 21-year-old Chun Yang, who is currently studying in the Vtar Institute, a vocational college, in Kuala Lumpur.
“Books made me feel like sleeping rather than learning, so I went to a college that focuses more on hands-on and technical skills rather than theory.
“Without basketball, I’d probably be just another student, blending in with the crowd.
“But this sport has given me a stage to compete, allowing me to stand in the spotlight. Waking up early for practice, committing to every training session, hitting the gym and maintaining a strict diet, all these have instilled a self-discipline in me.”
Yesterday, Chun Yang and his team, Selangor clinched the boys’ 3x3 title with a dominant 21-8 victory over Johor in a one-sided final at Stadium MBKS in Kuching.
It was his second gold medal of the tournament as he was part of the team that claimed the boys’ 5x5 crown on Wednesday.
Selangor also made history as their players achieved a remarkable clean sweep across all boys’ and girls’ categories.
“I feel very happy because Selangor made a clean sweep, something that has never happened before,” said Chun Yang. “My performance in the first two early-round matches were not so good, but I managed to step up in the final after taking my teammates’ and coaches’ advice to play without pressure.
In the girls’ 3x3 event, Selangor outplayed Johor 21-11 to secure the gold medal.
On Wednesday, Selangor’s girls’ team also claimed the girls’ 5x5 title after finishing first in the group standing with six victories.
RESULTS
Boys final: Selangor bt Johor 21-8.
Bronze-medal playoff: Penang bt Melaka 13-12.
Semi-finals: Johor bt Melaka 21-19; Selangor bt Penang 21-14.
Girls final: Selangor bt Johor 21-11.
Bronze-medal playoff: Negri Sembilan bt Sabah 16-11.
Semi-finals: Selangor bt Negri Sembilan 21-5; Johor bt Sabah 20-9.
