The Star Metro : First short-course swim meet draws 500 participants

Saturday October 6, 2012

By Y.P.SIVAM
sivam@thestar.com.my
Photos by SAM THAM


THE Selangor Amateur Swimming Association (SASA) created history by organising a short-course swimming championships at the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre in Shah Alam recently.

The event — Selangor Arena Short Course Sprints Swimming championships — was a big success with about 500 participants taking part. Meet manager Ong Jin Kooi said the short-course sprints was included in the Fina calendar.

“But there has never been any short course championships in Malaysia. We decided to initiate the programme. It is different from the normal swimming events.

Off they go : The participants plunging from the starting blocks.

“The distance is shorter and a participant has to make three turns instead of two, for the 100m. It is quite technical and the participants will have to be fit. We are happy with the response.

“The participants will gain valuable and eventually improve in their respective events,’’ said Jin Kooi.

The organisers also introduced the 100m individual medley and the 4x25m relays (freestyle and medley). These events are not in the FINA programme but Jin Kooi said they wanted to provide a platform for the participants to evaluate themselves.

“We received positive feedback from the participants. In fact, we were surprised with the presence of parents who came in big numbers to cheer their children on,’’ he added.

The organisers also decided to give cash incentives to best boy and girl swimmer in each of the four age groups. There were winners in the state and novice categories.

All set : The championships taking place at the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre in Shah Alam

Following the success of the championships, Jin Kooi said they were looking forward to organising an invitational championships next year.

“We want to invite participants from other states as well as neighbouring countries for next year’s championships.

“In the long run we will have swimmers to represent Malaysia in the FINA organised world championships,’’ said Jin Kooi.

The championships also served as a platform for SASA to identify potential swimmers for the 2014 Malaysia Games.

Selangor did extremely well in this year’s Malaysia Games in Kuantan, Pahang.

Jin Kooi said they had started training programmes for the next Malaysia Games.

“We have a strong tradition in the Malaysia Games. We want to continue our dominance,’’ he added.

The overall winners :

Boys

Under-10
State: George Ng (Cempaka)
Novice: Sean Goh (Cempaka)

11-12 years
State: Ooi Joo Vern (Sri KL Sharkies)
Novice: Ryan Cheong (Sri KL Sharkies)

13-14 years
State: Lim Tsui Khoon (Cili Pade)
Novice: Edward Chang (KSAS)

15-17 years
State: Chan Jie (KSAS)
Novice: Walter Guiscardo (Piranhas)

Girls

Under-10
State: Rosalind Pang (Kota Permai)
Novice: Nessa Yip (Cili Pade)

11-12 years
State: Nadia Adrianna (Cili Pade)
Novice: Anna Jobling (Piranhas)

13-14 years
State: Yap Siew Hui (Stingray)
Novice: Moonlan Zhang (Piranhas)

15-17 years
State: Maryann Kok (KSAS)
Novice: Lim Zhuo Yuen (Cili Pade)