Kong (squatting at left) posing with (from left) Chen, Voon, Kasa 2010 swimmers and coaches (centre) at the Youth and Sports Complex Aquatic Centre prior to a training session yesterday.
KUCHING: The Kuching Amateur Swimming Association (Kasa) 2010 are looking forward to a good outing at the 42nd Sarawak Age Group Swimming Championship at Bukit Lima swimming pool in Sibu from Feb 27 to March 1.
The over 100-strong contingent comprising 64 swimmers, coaches, officials and parents are all set to give other teams a good fight in the three-day competition organised by Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (Asas) and hosted by Sibu Amateur Swimming Association (Sasa).
This is also the biggest group of swimmers that Kuching have sent to the state meet since 2005.
An excited Kasa 2010 coach Anthony Kong is optimistic about his swimmers this year. Last year, the team finished as runners-up.
“They should do quite well and I am looking forward to seeing the younger ones doing well and this is the first outing for many of them,” he said.
Kong, also Kasa 2010 advisor, believes the championship will serve as a very good exposure ground especially for the younger ones in Group C to E.
“As for the senior ones, I am expecting them to do the times that I expected and certainly there will be some records broken in this meet.
“However, it will all depend on the weather and if it is good throughout, we can see some good times and fast swimming,” he added.
He also disclosed that Kasa 2010’s preparation for the championship has been going on smoothly.
“I expect Natasha Teo, Zia Tan, Jocelyn Lam, Andrea Teo, Adrian Chua and Zachary Tan do well, and the Lam sisters should do quite well in the middle distance events.
“It just that they need to toughen up in their mental preparedness and push forward during the competition.”
Kong will be assisted in the coaching by Nadia Kho, Arthur Chan and Michael Chen.
The team manager is Albert Voon assisted by Lawrence Chen while and the chaperons are Alice Ho, Amelia Lim, Juliana Choo and Lu Hung Nie.
The defending champions for the championship are Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association (Kotas).