DYNAMIC DUO: Annie Chieng (left) and her sister Angela both from SMK Batu Lintang will be competing in this weekend’s 2nd Samarahan-Kuching Divisions Inter-Schools Secondary/Primary Swimming Championship to be held at Kota Samarahan.
KUCHING: State Sukma XV swimmers, Annie Chieng and her younger sister Angela Chieng are ready to hog the limelight in the second Samarahan-Kuching Divisions Inter-School Secondary/Primary Swimming Championship which starts this weekend.
The sisters, who were best swimmers in Girls Group I (aged 16-18) and Girls Group II (aged 13-15) in last year’s meet, will anchor SMK Batu Lintang’s challenge in their school’s title defence at Samarahan Sports Complex swimming pool.
Last year, Annie and Angela were star performers and stole the limelight after winning 15 gold medals each to help SMK Batu Lintang finish as overall champions with 45 gold medals, 29 silver and 19 bronze.
Both sisters will compete in nine events namely 50m and 100m butterfly, 50m and 100m backstroke, 50m and 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley and two team relay races.
However, another star swimmer from SMK Batu Lintang Welson Sim, 15, is skipping to meet to concentrate on his training in preparation for Sukma XV in Kuantan, Pahang next month.
Other teams which are expected to give SMK Batu Lintang a good challenge are SMK Kuching Town No 1 and SM Lodge.
In the primary schools section, SJK Chung Hua No 5 are expected to retain their crown as last year’s closest rival SJK St Paul will be without star swimmer Tan Choon Fatt.
Tan who is now 13 years old and is continuing his secondary school education at Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sports School (formerly known as Bandar Penawar Sports School) in Johor.
Those expected to give SJK Chung Hua No 5 a good run for their money will be SJK Chung Hua Batu 4 1/2 and SJK Chung Hua No 2.
A total of 147 swimmers from 36 primary and secondary schools in the Kuching and Samarahan divisions will compete in the meet which features over 110 events.
The championship is organised by Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association with the objectives of encouraging local youths to pursue an active lifestyle through swimming, to foster inter-action between school children in the two divisions as well as to enhance Sarawak’s strength in the sport.
Assistant Minister of Social Development (Youth Development) cum Assistant Minister of Housing Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah is expected to officiate the opening ceremony tomorrow.