By Ng Wei LoonAFTER an impressive run in the Kuala Lumpur Sports Council (MSSMKL) Swimming Championships that concluded in January, MSSMKL girls’ Under-15 best swimmer recipient Goh Suat Ying is setting her sights on winning a medal at the Malaysia Games to be held in Terengganu from May 31 to June 9.
In her debut at the biennial Games in Kedah two years ago, the 15-year-old SMK Bukit Nanas student featured in two individual events (200m butterfly and 200m backstroke).
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| Repetitive drill: Goh going through the demanding training programme. |
Goh said she was aiming to secure her berth for a second appearance in Sukma.
“It is possible that I will get the chance to compete in three events (200m freestyle, 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley). The best bet to win a medal is in the 4x200m freestyle relay,” she added.
At this year’s MSSMKL competition, Goh swept nine gold medals and shattered five meet records to emerge as the top swimmer in the girls’ Under-15 category.
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| Mentor and protégé: Goh (left) is currently under the charge of Chinese coach He. |
She set new marks in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 200m freestyle and 200m butterfly.
Four other victories included the 50m and 100m butterfly, 100m freestyle and 200m individual medley.
Goh said breaking the records in the 200m freestyle and 100m backstroke came beyond her expectations.
“The 200m freestyle was the toughest race because I swam alone in the second heat. Three of the stronger rivals were in Heat One. So, I was chasing against time on my own in the race. I only managed to reduce the previous mark with a narrow margin,” she said.
In the 200-metre freestyle, she clocked 2:19.50 to erase the 2:19.76 record set by Goh Eik Hee in 1999.
Additionally, she registered a new pace of 1:14.08 in the 100m backstroke.
Last year, she also won the MSSMKL Most Promising Girl Athlete and Federal Territory Games Best Female Swimmer awards.
“At the MSSMKL swimming meet last year, I broke two records in the girls’ Under-15 50m and 200m backstroke,” said Goh, adding that the backstroke was her favourite discipline.
After taking the plunge in the sport at the Chin Woo swimming pool in Kuala Lumpur when she was in Year One, the former SJK (C) Jalan Imbi pupil did not take long to show her promise.
“I am the youngest of four siblings. Both my elder brothers and my elder sister also took up swimming recreationally. I am the only one in the family to pursue it to a higher level. Winning my first gold medal in the girls’ Under-10 50m butterfly when I was only in Year One spurred me to take up swimming seriously,” she added.
Goh was roped into the Kuala Lumpur Amateur Swimming Association (PRAKL) training programme at the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) swimming pool in Bandar Tun Razak, Cheras, when she entered secondary school.
Her mother Chin Siow Aiew said Goh trains nine sessions a week and each session goes for up to three hours.
“Swimming is a refreshing change for her to break the momentum from concentrating on her studies. It is a physical activity to help her build her character,” added Chin, who sits on the spectators’ stand along with other parents while they watch their children go through the paces in training.
Currently, she is training under the tutelage of Chinese coach He Ting Lan in the PRAKL training squad.
Despite her good showing at the recent MSSMKL, He said Goh would face an uphill task against stronger competitors at the national age-group competitions.
“In training, she is showing her desire and commitment to strive for improvement. But, she still needs to work on it and aim to clock better times against better-quality field in the upcoming PRAKL Age-Group competition as a build up to the National Age-Group,” added He.
The PRAKL Age-Group is scheduled from Feb 29 to March 2 followed by the National Age-Group to be held in April.
“Before tapering down for competitions, the repetitive training regime can be tough. The endurance training such as the 4x400m individual medley and the 6x200m butterfly can be taxing on the arms and increase the heartbeat rate. Usually, I feel the soreness on my muscles after a hard session.
“Although the training can be demanding, I enjoy going to the pool because I have friends who share the same passion,” said Goh.
GOH SUAT YING
Age: 15 years
Height: 1.59m
Weight: 47kg
School: SMK Convent Bukit Nanas (Form Three)
Favourite Event: 100m backstroke
Personal Best: 100m backstroke (1:13.78)
Favourite Food: Fried chicken
Favourite Pastime: Studying
Favourite Hangout: Mid Valley
Ambition: Doctor
ACHIEVEMENTS
2004
- MSSM girls’ Under-12 one gold and one silver medals
- Milo-SportExcel Circuit (three legs) girls’ Under-11 overall best swimmer
2005
- MSSM girls’ Under-12 two silver and one bronze medals
2006
- National Age-Group Swimming Championships girls’ Under-13 five gold medals
- Debut in Sukma 2007
- MSSMKL Most Promising Girl Athlete recipient
- Federal Territory Games Best Female Swimmer (five gold medals) 2008
- MSSMKL girls' Under-15 five records and nine gold medals
- MSSMKL girls' Under-15 Best Swimmer
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