Photo shows the swimmers who will shoulder Sarawak’s challenge at the Malaysian Open Swimming Championships.
KUCHING (May 23): The 66th Malaysian Open Swimming Championships to at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur from today until Sunday will be the best chance for swimmers from the long list to seal their places in the Sarawak Sukma XXI squad.
Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (Asas) has sent 28 swimmers to the national meet led by team manager Victor Leong, coach Arthur Chan, and chaperon Jackie Pang.
“Our main objective is to try and achieve the Sukma qualifying time and as well as for us to identify swimmers for the individual events and relay teams at Sukma XXI.
“There is also an opportunity for them to qualify for the SEA Age Group Swimming Championships to be held in Bangkok, Thailand later this year,” said Chan.
Currently, Magdalene Lau Ing Siew, Kelly Teo Yao, Dylan Leong Yi Quan, Jeff Chua Yu Yang, and Hii Poung Wei have met the qualifying marks set by Asas for Sukma XXI, which will be hosted by Sarawak in August.
For the Malaysian Open this year, Asas has decided to send all swimmers named on the long list for Sukma selection.
“The Sarawak State Sports council (MSNS) intends to send a full team of 12 girls and 12 boys for the challenge in Sukma XXI. We will see who meets the Sukma qualifying times and qualify automatically for the team.
“We will also recommend the top four swimmers for the 100m and 200m freestyle events for the freestyle relay teams and the top 100m individual stroke swimmers for the individual medley relays,” said Asas secretary Anthony Kong.
Team Sarawak, featuring 13 girls and 15 boys from Kuching, Bintulu, and Miri, will be competing in 127 individual and seven relay events at the Malaysian Open.
The boys team comprises Bong Rui Jie, Cayden Mineve Chin, Ryan Colby Kueh Poh Yuan, Dylan Leong Yi Quan, Darren Long Yi Chen, Wilfred Tan Jin Rui, Donovan Ngui, Hector Ho Rze Jun, Ryan Tan, Hii Poung Jie, Matthias Liew Ming Zhi, Nuri Saadan Khaild, Jeff Chua Yu Yang, Jotham Lau Bin Quan, and Hii Poung Wei.
Whereas the girls team is made up of Elise Then Yi Xuan, Shanise Jauwa Joseline Adong, Kayleigh Ang Zhi Xuan, Alicia Chan Kai Xin, Claire Lau Yu Rong, Janice Tan Jing Xuan, Vanessa Liew, Janessa Liew Jia Yi, Christy Wong Yau Xua, Emily Wong Li Min, Shir Le Kueh, Kelly Teo Yao, and Magdalene Lau Ing Siew.
“This championship will also be an educational meet for some of the junior swimmers to experience swimming in a ‘morning heats and night finals’ format, which will be the same format for Sukma XXI,” added Chan.