IMPRESSIVE: Datuk Lee Kim Shin (front row, fourth left) celebrates with Sarawak’s swimming team on the last day of the event at Wisma Belia Swimming Complex in Kuantan. — All photos by Chimon Upon
KUANTAN: Sarawak ended their challenge in Sukma XV swimming at Wisma Belia Swimming Complex on a bright note after state swimmers bagged another gold medal, a silver and created a new meet record to trailed behind overall champion, Selangor who lifted the title with just a gold difference.
They also surpassed the medal target of eight golds by capturing two more for their best achievement in Sukma since Sabah Sukma in 2002.
Vernon Lee collected his third gold yesterday when he finished first in men’s 1,500m event, winning the race in a record time of 15:53.67s.
It was also his third record after having registered new record times in the men’s 400m freestyle and men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.
The silver and bronze medallists were Tia’a Faang Dar of Johor and Tan Gin Yu of Kuala Lumpur with times of 16:57.18s and 16:59.27s.
Sarawak’s quartet of Nita Wong Zhi Yi, Erika Kong Chia Chia, Hii Siew Siew and Grace Yii Shii Tong delivered the day’s solitary silver in the women’s 4x100m when they clocked 4:28.14s.
Kuala Lumpur’s Chan Kah Yan, Christina Loh, Ong Ming Fen and Mak Ai Sin clinched the gold in record style with a new time of 4:23.17s, erasing the old meet record of 4:25.82s also set by Kuala Lumpur in Melaka Sukma in 2010.
Third were Sabah’s Chris Tan, Baveliana Wong, Pan Cheng Ru and Heng Kor Jin with a time of 4:46.24s.
Chef de mission Datuk Lee Kim Shin was very satisfied with the state team’s performance in this Sukma.
“Our swimmers have improved a lot because we only won four golds at the last Sukma. I am confident that our young swimmers will produce better results in 2014 and 2016,” he said after presenting the medals to the winners in the men’s 1,500m freestyle.
He noted the team’s spirit and morale among the swimmers and officials was very high and everyone had worked very hard for the excellent results.
“We also broke five meet records which I think is very impressive,” he said on the good performance due to the training programme and leadership of state’s Sukma swimming team.
Team manager Kho Tiong Mee was equally happy with the results, saying that the hard work and efforts of the swimmers had paid off handsomely.
“We have tried very hard against the stiff challenge from teams especially Selangor and Kuala Lumpur in the competition,” he said.
Sarawak golds were won by Erika Kong (women’s 200m IM, 400m IM) Hii Siew Siew (women’s 200m butterfly, 100m butterfly), Angela Chieng (women’s 400m freestyle, 800m freestyle), Vernon Lee (men’s 400m freestyle, 1,500m freestyle), men’s 4x200m relay and women’s 4x200m relay.