by Ng Wei Loon
AFTER having won only a bronze medal in the girls’ Under-10 50m backstroke at the Kuala Lumpur Sports Council (MSSMKL) Swimming Championships last year, budding swimmer Tan Rou Ying from SJK (C) Chi Man in Sentul had a taste of fame with her major breakthrough in this season’s competition in January.
The nine-year-old said it was a memorable outing because she won the best swimmer award in the girls’ Under-10 category.
Tan bagged four gold medals – in the 50m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle – as well as a silver medal in the 50m breaststroke at the meet.
 |
Tan: ‘My aim is to improve and do better to retain the award next year.’
|
“It was my best outing thus far because I managed to prove myself with good results. My aim is to improve and do better to retain the award next year,” added Tan.
She went on to stamp her mark at the Kuala Lumpur Amateur Swimming Association (PRAKL) Age-Group meet in February, at which she captured five gold medals, including a record-breaking feat in the girls’ Group Five (Under-Eight) category.
In the 50m butterfly, she erased the old record of 41.81s with a 40.04s effort.
“Going into the race, I was confident of rewriting the mark because I had consistently been clocking a faster time than the previous record in training. I won the event unchallenged,” said Tan.
Her other victories came in the 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle.
Last month, she took part in eight events in the girls’ Group Four (Under-10) category at the opening leg of the SportExcel circuit.
Her father Tan Kok Yew said she had been maintaining her form, competing against her seniors in all the four strokes (freestyle, breast, butterfly and back) over the 50m and 100m distances.
 |
Breakthrough: Tan claiming the MSSMKL best swimmer award in the girls’ Under-10 category.
|
“Although she is swimming at a disadvantage in the age-group, it has been good exposure for her. She has been showing consistency in matching her personal best in all the events. We will encourage her to take part in the other two legs, scheduled ithis month and August,” he added.
It was a natural progression for Tan to join her three elder siblings – Rou Jun, 16, Jun Hao, 15, and Rou Jie, 13 – in the pool.
“She took up swimming when she was just a year old at the Chin Woo swimming club and started competing in age-group competitions at the age of five.
“Before joining the Ikan Bilis Swimming Club (IBSC) in October last year, two coaches (Peh Gin Hai and Ong Ching Guan) at Chin Woo had played important roles in grooming her,” said Kok Yew.
Currently, she trains six times a week under the tutelage of the IBSC coaches at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) pool in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras.
IBSC coach Zoe Khor described Tan as an emerging talent with good potential.
“Her work rate in training fluctuates according to her mood because she might be worried about her homework,” Khor noted. “She has to show better commitment in going through the paces in training.”
Tan is expected to feature for the club at the National Inter-Club Swimming Championships.
TAN ROU YING
Age: Nine years
Height: 1.40m
Weight: 39kg
School: SJK (C) Chi Man, Sentul (Year Three)
Club: Ikan Bilis Swimming Club
Favourite Stroke: Backstroke
Personal Bests: 50m backstroke (43.42s), 100m backstroke (1:27.82)
Favourite Food: Noodles
Favourite Pastime: Reading
Favourite Hangout: MPH Bookstores, Mid Valley
Ambition: Doctor
ACHIEVEMENTS
2007
– MSSMKL girls’ Under-10 one bronze medal (50m backstroke)
2008
– MSSMKL girls’ Under-10 four gold medals (50m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle) and one silver medal (50m breaststroke)
– MSSMKL girls’ Under-10 Best Swimmer award
– PRAKL girls’ Group Five (Under-Eight) five gold medals (50m butterfly, 50m backstroke, 50m breaststroke, 50m freestyle and 100m freestyle)
No comments:
Post a Comment