UIPM Coaches Certification Programme: Southeast Asian development continues in Kuala Lumpur (MAS) and Dili (TLS)

The boom times for UIPM sports in Southeast Asia continue. Fresh off the back of two hugely successful major events in the region over the past year, UIPM continues to invest in development with two Coaches Certification Programme courses being run concurrently in separate capital cities.

In both Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and in the Timor Leste capital of Dili the two CCP courses combined to see almost 50 coaches from six different nations across Southeast Asia take their first steps on the coaching journey. 

In Dili (TLS), 21 coaches took part in the week-long course from June 18-22 under the expert eye of UIPM CCP Level 3 Coach Danilo Fagundes (BRA). At an idyllic beach-side location hugging the blue waters of the Savu Sea, the group which included 11 women and 10 men all successfully achieved their Level 1 coaching certifications. The course was supported by Olympic Solidarity funding. 

In 2023, the region played host to the Southeast Asian Games in Pattaya, Thailand, and later in the year the UIPM 2023 Biathle-Triathle World Championships which were held in Bali, Indonesia, with both competitions seeing a new generation of young athletes from across Southeast Asia taking part. As many as 12 Asian countries hosted Global Laser Run City Tour events in 2023 and Singapore recently held another.

With all of this growth in mind, the second of the recent CCP courses is likely to have a wide impact too. With former World Champion and Olympian Yasser Hefny OLY (EGY) the UIPM CCP Level 3 Coach overseeing the course in Kuala Lumpur (MAS), 25 participants had a golden opportunity to learn from a Pentathlon legend.

The group included coaches from Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand and the course, which ran from June 19-23, saw the six women and 19 men all successful in securing their Level 1 certification as they continue their coaching careers. 

UIPM Coaches Committee Chairman Christian Roudaut said: “I am so pleased to see not one but two successful CCP course take place in recent weeks across Southeast Asia. We have all witness the great energy and excitement for UIPM sports in that region and supporting that is a focus for us. 

“Seeing so many women taking part is also very positive. Promoting coaching opportunities for women is a crucial part of continuing to grow our sports in South Asia and beyond. I congratulate all those who took part and thank the organizers and instructors for all of their efforts.”

UIPM CCP Level 3 Coach Danilo Fagundes (BRA) said: “What a week! It was a privilege to oversee such a friendly but focused group of students in Dili (TLS). To see a majority of women participants in this course gave me great joy too. I want to thank all of our new Level 1 coaches for their efforts and also thank the Olympic Solidarity fund for its support.”

UIPM CCP Level 3 Coach Yasser Hefny (EGY) said: “I was very glad to take part as an instructor in this course in Kuala Lumpur. Especially because of the part it plays in continuing to develop not just Malaysia but the entire Southeast Asian region. We had coaches from different nations come together with great enthusiasm to help the current and new generations of athletes in the countries, which is always inspiring to see.”