FLASHBACK: A swimmer in action at the Kota Samarahan Sport Complex Swimming Pool in this file photo.
KUCHING: Swimmers from schools in Kuching and Samarahan Divisions are expected to do battle at Kota Samarahan Swimming Pool on the last weekend of June when the Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association (KOTAS) Inter-school swimming meet takes place.
All 112 primary and 53 secondary schools from Samarahan and Kuching Divisions have been invited to participate in the meet organised by KOTAS.
“The Second Samarahan-Kuching Divisions Inter-School Swimming Championship will be held at Kota Samarahan Sport Complex Swimming Pool at 8am-5pm, from June 30 – July 1 this year. This is the second meet of its kind to be held at the Kota Samarahan Swimming Pool and it will be a great opportunity for young swimmers from the Samarahan Division to gain experience swimming against those from Kuching,” said President of KOTAS Yii Chee Sing.
“After the success of last year’s event and the encouragement from KOTAS Special Advisor Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, we felt we must make this an annual event to further promote swimming and fostering interaction between schools. For schools in Kuching, it will also be an opportunity to visit Samarahan Division and enjoy the experience of competing at a different venue,” added Yii.
In Sarawak, there are only a handful of championships for our young swimmers and they need more exposures to hone their swimming skills and inspire them to train harder.
“KOTAS aims to encourage more children to be involved in swimming as part of a healthy, active lifestyle as well as identifying new talent to enhance Sarawak’s strength in the sport,” he said.
Talent scouts will be present at the poolside to identify young swimmers with potential who may be invited to join long-term training under state coaches.
The inter-school meet will see swimmers compete in four age groups starting with the under-10 and the under-18. Events will include individual medleys, the four swimming stroke disciplines over various distances and the much-anticipated Inter-school relays. SMK Batu Lintang is the defending champions in the high school division while SJK Chung Hua No. 5 in the primary school category. Both schools are aiming to repeat their success in 2011 and to retain their championship crowns.
Several star state swimmers are also expected to make an appearance to vie for the best boy and best girl awards in their respective age categories. Any students keen to compete in the championships can contact their school as entry forms have already been sent through the state Education Department.
Alternatively, they can obtain an entry form directly from KOTAS by contacting the Mr Hii Tuang Sing on 019-8584066 (E-mail : [email protected] Fax: 082-452297) or Mdm Alice Kwon on 013-8183949 (E-mail : [email protected]). Closing date for entries is on June 15. Entry fees for individual events are RM4 each while a relay team is charged RM20.
“We are looking forward to an exciting competition and I strongly urge all schools to identify their swimmers and take part in the meet,” said Yii.