Welson Sim competing in one of the events at the 58th Malaysian Open Swimming Championships in Kuala Lumpur.
Erika Kong celebrating her victory in the women’s 200m breaststroke.
KUCHING: Welson Sim Wee Seng and Erika Kong Chia Chia will represent Malaysia at the Fina World Championships in Kazan, Russia from July 24 to August 9.
The Bukit Jalil-based swimmers from Sarawak made the cut for the world meet when they beat the qualifying times at the 58th Malaysian Open Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Kuala Lumpur last week.
Welson splashed to three gold medals in the national championships in the men’s 100m freestyle (51.73s), 400m freestyle (3:53.91s) and his most impressive achievement – the 200m freestyle – in which he clocked 1:49.67s, which was only 0.45s off the national record of 1:49.67s set by fellow Sarawakian Daniel Bego in 2009.
As for Erika, she won the women’s 200 individual medley (2:20.80s) and 200m breaststroke (2:36.21s).
She was also second in the 50m breaststroke (32.47s) and 100m (1:12.19s), clocking times better than her personal bests.
Apart from the five gold medals, the nine-member Sarawak team also captured four silver and five bronze medals.
Angela Chieng Chui Fei, who had just joined the national squad beginning of this year, bagged the silver in the women’s 800m freestyle (9:09.10s) and the bronze in the 400m freestyle.
Vernon Lee Jeau Zhi delivered a silver medal in the men’s 1,500m freestyle with a time of 16:05.31s.
He finished third in the men’s 200m freestyle (1:52.62s) and 400m freestyle (4:01.31s).
Sarawak’s other bronze medals were contributed by Daniel Bego in the men’s 100m freestyle (52.08s) and 100m butterfly (55.53s).
State head coach Hii Hieng Chiong was satisfied with the team’s performance, saying that Welson and Erika had done very well in the meet.
“They have not only helped Sarawak win five gold medals but also booked their tickets to the world championships in Russia,” he said.
While those in the national squad have won medals, Hii said the international competition had provided good exposure for state swimmers like Nee Gui Ping, Alex Tiong, Tan Tyng and Leong Wan Ying.
“The state swimmers have managed to improve their personal bests and the best thing for Sarawak is that all swimmers except for Daniel Bego who competed at the meet are eligible for Sukma 2016,” he added.
He said sending them to compete in the Malaysian Open was part of the state’s preparations for Sukma XIX in Sarawak next year.