TIOMAN SET TO JOIN WORLD SURFING CIRCUIT

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 (Bernama) -- A wide beach with great waves in Pulau
Tioman is set to become an international surfing championship venue, said
Malaysian Surfing Association deputy president Mohd Fazlisham Mohamed Nor.

He said the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) would likely include
the Juara Beach in the Tioman island, off the east coast of state of Pahang in
peninsular Malaysia, as one of the venue of the World Championship Tour (WCT)
circuit as early as next year.

"The waves are suitable for surfers as it reach a height of up to five
metres.

"Although ASP has set waves of between three and four metres for the
championship, the waves at the Juara Beach are save for surfers," he told
Bernama.

Mohd Fazlisham said the Juara Beach was chosen over several beaches in the
east coast of the peninsular by the ASP.

"ASP has sanctioned us to hold the Junior Surfing Championship in November
and the WCT qualifying round in December to prepare us to be part of the world
circuit," he said.

The 11-round world championship tour is held at 40 venues throughout the
world.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Surfing Association secretary-general Amir Reza Hamzah
said it planned to conduct surfing training for children and teenagers at the
Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel.
-- BERNAMA