KUCHING: Sarawak’s golden hope Erika Kong is all poised to make a big splash at Hang Jebat Sports Complex’s Aquatics Stadium in Melaka.
ERIKA: On the right track to peaking for the swimming competition from June 11-17 at the 13th Sukma.
The 15-year-old Lodge International School student is on the right track to peaking for the swimming competition from June 11-17.
She has just returned with two gold medals, one silver and one bronze from the Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Group championship at Trace College Aquatic Pool in Manila.
The golds were won in the girls 50m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke while the silver was won in the 100m breaststroke and the bronze in the 200m individual medley.
“I am quite happy with Erika’s good performance at the SEA meet from June 3-5 and I do believe this will certainly boost her to also do well in Melaka this week,” her father and coach Anthony Kong said.
The fact that all the medals were won with record times (meet records) at a SEA age group championship is a clear indication that she is fully ready to stamp her mark at the biennial games.
“She is getting into the right speed for the few disciplines and is on the right track to peaking for the games,” Kong said in a telephone interview from Melaka yesterday.
The young swimmer is in good form this year and has won six golds, four silvers at the National Age Group Championship as well as seven golds and four silvers at the Malaysian Schools Sports Council Championship.
At the last Sukma in Terengganu two years ago, Erika won three silvers and one bronze, with the silvers coming from the women’s 50m breaststroke, 100m breaststroke and 50m butterfly while the bronze was won in the women’s 200m breaststroke.
She will be aiming for gold in her pet events, the 100m breaststroke and 200m breaststroke, where her main rival will be Christina Loh of Kuala Lumpur.
Christina, who also competed in Manila, edged Erika into second place in the girls Group 2 100m breaststroke with a time of 1:12.90 but lost to the latter in the 50m breaststroke.
“I am keeping my fingers crossed on Erika’s expected performance and the most important thing is that she must not have any hiccups along the way like having fever and flu or injury,” added Kong.
He said there were only a few minor adjustments to be made on Erika’s swimming techniques having now well prepared both physically and mentally.