(From left) Chung, Sarawak Club activity executive Choo Kok Lee, Karen and swimming sub-committee member Sabrina Tan.
KUCHING: The Sarawak Club are eyeing eight golds at the Gymkhana Club Miri Inter-Club Swimming Championship in Miri from June 13-14, with a 23-strong team anchored by nine swimmers from last year’s outing.
Sarawak Club swimming member Karen Shephard said the team comprising 15 boys and eight girls will be led by Michael Chung Kian Kuek who is the coach-cum-team manager.
“We have been participating in this event for many years and this is a different competition when compared to the Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Wong Soon Kai (WSK) Inter Club Challenge Trophy because we have swimmers from neighbouring Brunei, Sabah, Sibu and even a club from India,” she said.
Teams that have confirmed their participation in the two-day championship, which only lines up 50m and 100m distances, are Born To Swim (India), Flying Fish (Sibu), Blue Marlin (Brunei), Sarawak Club and Gymkhana Club Miri.
“Our main objective is to let our young swimmers experience the different level and different standard and the challenges from swimmers abroad, as well as see how they swim and learn from them,” said Karen.
“It is indeed a good exposure for them and not only will they get to compete in more competitive swimming but they also get to make new friends through swimming,” she added.
As part of their swimming activities, Karen said the club will be organising its annual in-house swimming gala on Aug 31 where over 80 swimmers are expected to take part.
“We are also looking to participate in the WSK Inter Club in Miri later this year,” she said.
Despite using the outing as an adventure for many young swimmers, Chung said the Sarawak Club is targeting to win eight gold medals and a bold finish among the top three teams at the Gymkhana swimming meet.
“We have nine swimmers who competed in last year’s meet where we finished in fifth place with six gold, 13 silver and 11 bronze medals,” he said.
Sarawak Club were the overall champions in 2013. “This year’s team comprises mainly of new faces and I believe this is a good exposure for them,” he said.
As most the swimmers are busy preparing or sitting for their examinations, Chung said they will resume regular training every night for two to three hours. However, the swimmers are now doing lots of exercise on dry land and at home to keep fit.
The boy swimmers are Daryl Boon, Matthew Chong, Matthew Ong, Roger Loh, Roy Loh, Lau Mian Yi, Chang Jia En, Kenn Soon Yang, Tristan Tham Eet, Tyrone Tham Eet, Aaron Ting, Vince Kuek, Ken Kuek, Reagan Chong and Ryan Chong. Forming the girls team are Dennyse Boon, Marrissa Hon, Chang Jia Hui, D’nesha Tan, Ashley Liew, Emma Wee, Serene Liew and Pheobe Liew.