Kuo presenting the Best Girl’s A award to Cindy Sui at the recent Sibu Schools Championship.
SIBU: Sibu Amateur Swimming Association (Sasa) deputy president Oliver Kuo has called on their swimmers competing in the coming 42th Sarawak Age-group Championship to work hard and bring glory to Sibu.
“We used to rule the pool in the 1970s and 1980s but not anymore.
“Train hard, pump in more efforts and only then you can become one of the elite swimmers and help Sibu Division win titles,” he remarked when closing the Sibu Age-group Meet last weekend.
He reminded the swimmers that the state-level championship in Kuching from Feb 27 to March 1 would be used to pick swimmers to represent Sarawak for the 51st Milo International Age-group Championship to be held in Kuala Lumpur from June 24-26.
And swimmers can use the Milo International to qualify for the South East Asia Age-group and World Championships, he added.
“So if you can beat the qualifying mark at the Milo International meet, there is every chance for you to excel at a higher level.”
Kuo also rallied the swimmers, coaches, teachers and parents to work together to restore Sibu’s past glory in the sport.
He, however, highlighted the lack of a roofed swimming pool stadium like those in Kuching as an obstacle.
Sasa, he shared, had already written to the state government to look into the matter.
“Swimmers nowadays are very concerned about their complexion and what more to say training under the scorching sun. Surely, this will drive them away,” he explained.