SIBU: Defending champion Sibu look set to retain the Tan Sri Datuk Patinggi Dr Wong Soon Kai Inter-Club Swimming Championship Challenge Cup when the two-day meet starts at Bukit Lima Swimming Pool on Dec 5. Event organising chairman Tony Hii said 209 swimmers representing six swimming clubs throughout the state would be taking part in the championship.
They included 40 from Kota Samarahan Swimming Association (Kotas),30 from Kuching Amateur Swimming Association (Kasa), 48 from Miri Amateur Swimming Association (Masa), 11 from Bintulu Amateur Swimming Association (Basa) 56 from Sibu Amateur Swimming Association (Sasa), 10 from Gymkhana Club Miri (GCM) and seven from Special Olympics Sibu.
The competition is divided into five categories – Group A (15-17 years old), Group B (13-14 years), Group C (11-12 years), Group D (9- 10 years) and Group E (8 years and below).
However, due to the clash with the South East Asia Age Group championship to be held in Vietnam from Dec 4 – 6, eight top swimmers in the state would give the state meet a miss. Hii said the winning team would be determined on points system instead of the number of gold medals.
Also present at Friday’s press conference were Sasa vice chairman Oliver Kuo, organising secretary Chiam Yong Biau and coach Samuel Wong.
Trophies would be awarded to the best girl’s and boy’s teams and also the best overall of the championship. Meanwhile, Kuo said Sasa only took up the task to organise the event after Masa turned down the offer.
Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (Asas) president Dato Wee Hong Seng is expected to officiate at the closing ceremony at 12.30pm on Dec 6.