More than 340 students for inter schools swimming championship

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Zachary Tan (fifth left, back row) with his teammates before undergoing their practice at the Sarawak Aquatic Centre yesterday.

KUCHING: Defending champions for the secondary schools section St Joseph Private School are all set to give another good show in the 7th Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association (Kotas) Inter-Primary and Secondary Schools Swimming Championships at the Sarawak Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya starting today and ending tomorrow.

Anchored by Sukma swimmer Zachary Tan, the private school in Satok are fielding 33 swimmers in the secondary schools category and 18 swimmers in the primary schools category.

“We will try our best to defend the secondary schools crown and looking to improve our performance in the primary schools section,” Zachary said when met during the school’s team practice at the Sarawak Aquatic Centre yesterday.

Speaking on behalf of the team captain Anthony Kho, Zachary said it would be tough to top the competition again with SMK Kuching High posing the biggest threat.

The star performer in last year’s competition said he would be competing in all the individual events and two relay races.

“I will try to win as many gold medals as I can to help my school and try to win the best boy award in the Group A category for 15-17 year-olds,” he said, adding that the main contenders for the award include Hii Puong Hou and Job Tan.

More than 340 swimmers from 48 schools in Kuching and Samarahan divisions will be splashing for top honours in the two-day meet organised by Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association (Kotas).

Primary schools champions for two consecutive years (2015-2016) SJK Chung Hua No. 2 will be going all out not to only defend their title but also to keep the Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah Challenge Trophy for good if they win again this year.

The challenge is expected to come from SJK Chung Hua No. 4, Tunku Putra International School and St Joseph Private School (Primary).

A total of 108 events will be contested over the two days and they include the four swimming stroke disciplines for five age groups, with the much-anticipated inter-school relays as the highlight of the meet.

In addition to the Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah’s champion primary and secondary schools trophies, individual trophies will be awarded to the best girl and boy swimmers in each of the five age groups.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah will close the event at 4.30pm on Sunday and give away the main prizes.