Bernama : Aquatic Centre In Kedah To Be Placed On Standby For SUKMA - Khairy

KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Youth and Sports will set aside RM300,000 to refurbish the Kedah state aquatic centre in Gunung Keriang as a contingency plan for the SUKMA that will be hosted by Perlis.

The contingency plan taken to avoid any probabilities if the aquatic centre in Kangar, Perlis cannot be completed according to schedule said Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

"I have to make sure everything is ready for the SUKMA in Perlis. The Ministry has already released the allocation to refurbish the swimming complex in Kedah.

"However, I hope the aquatic centre and the badminton complex in Perlis can be completed in time for the SUKMA," he told reporters after launching the 'Malaysia Purple League' (MPL) a professional badminton league, at the Sentosa Sports Arena, here today.

According to reports, the aquatic centre in Perlis which was supposed to have been completed by March 31, was only 70 percent ready although Perlis Mentri Besar Azlan Man had assured that all venues would be ready before the SUKMA starts on May 24.

Khairy had also announced that the Ministry had allocated RM122 million to Perlis to host the SUKMA from May 24 to June 4.

The SUKMA in Perlis will feature 24 sports and offer 356 gold medals.

Meanwhile, the Malaysia Purple League, a professional badminton league will see participation from various clubs in the country and feature professional and amateur players.

According to Khairy the league would help unearth talented young shuttlers who can one day replace players like Datuk Lee Chong Wei.

"The league will be platform to unearth raw talent. If the raw talent is unearthed at the age of 10, the talent can be groomed to take over from Chong Wei after 10 years," he said.

For a start, the MPL will feature 12 clubs that will vie for the RM2 million overall prize money offered.

-- BERNAMA

FINA : Amazing Comeback for Michael Phelps

Re-posted from FINA Facebook

Here's to an amazing comeback for Michael Phelps: he won the 100m fly prelims, finished 2nd in the finals. Not bad after 628 days without competing!

Brave swim at Kapas Marang International Swimathon 2014

The Kapas Marang International Swimathon has been an annual affair for some daring swimmers who braved open sea and jelly fish to swim 6.5km from Pulau Kapas to the mainland at Marang, Terengganu.

Some of our IBSC swimmers also took the challenge and sprung up some pleasant surprises.

Yeong Yik San, 13 has done his dad proud by championing the Junior Boys category (12-19 years) when he first reached the shore in 1 hour 31.39 mins. In the overall men category, Yik San was positioned second ranked with the adults. Last year, he managed a third position under the juniors.

Meanwhile, Nur Iman Nabilah, 16 also tried her luck in the long distance swim. She was awarded third position with a time of 1 hour 34.18 mins.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Yeong Yik San and Nur Iman Nabilah happy with their winning prize

Top 10 Junior Boys results

Top 10 Junior Girls results

Wong Jun Bin in record-breaking spree in MAG 2014

The recent Malaysia Invitational Age Group Swimming Championship 2014 held at Bukit Jalil, last week registered some 545 swimmers across the region as swimmers were eager to book spots to several international championships. Held for the 50th time, the golden MAG attracted swimmers from Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, India, Indonesia and Singapore competing from 11th to 13th April, 2014, trying to gain tickets to Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2014 in Nanjing and FINA World Championship 2015 in Kazan. Apart from the above world championships the Malaysian swimmers were also eyeing to enter the regional meet, 38th SEA Age Group Swimming Championship 2014 in Singapore from this MAG platform.

IBSC members made up of majority of the swimmers in Team Kuala Lumpur and after 3 days of intense competition, the KL contingent managed to grab a third overall position after Hong Kong and Selangor with a total of 25 gold, 31 silver and 27 bronze.

Wong Jun Bin mapping his new records in MAG 2014

Wong Jun Bin, 14, who is based in Singapore Sports School was a gem to the team as he broke records in 1500m free, 400m IM, 100m fly and 200m fly, with the latter 2 records being the meet closed records.

In 1500 free, he bettered Vernon Lee's 2010 record with a faster time of 16:27.94 and in 400m IM he re-wrote Wong Fu Kang's 2013 record with 4:45.24.

Jun Bin's 4 gold and 3 silver achievements were clearly remarkable as all the timings in these 7 events qualified him into the 38th SEA Age Group Swimming Championship (SEAG) 2014 scheduled to be held in June 2014 in Singapore.

In his 100m and 200m butterfly events, Jun Bin also managed to dip below the YOG(B) qualifying marks too when he touched at 57.07s and 2:05.91 respectively behind Dylan Khoo of Singapore.


Apart from Jun Bin , the other record breakers were Keith Lim and Tan Gin Yu, both in the Group 1 boys.

In the 100m fly event, Keith touched concurrently with Alwyn Tan of Penang with a flying time of 55.95s, erasing Daniel Bego's 2007 old time of 56.47s. Both registered an open record time below the YOG (B) mark. Keith, 16, who is training under PRAKL Coach He Tinglan, also settled for 2 bronze in his 50m fly and 50m free events.

Keith Lim, making his presence felt at the pool deck with record time in 100m fly. 

Tan Gin Yu, 17, was joyous when he came first in his 400m IM with a new time of 4:40.46 breaking last year's record belonging to Tia'a Faang Der of 4:40.83. Gin Yu who is also based in Singapore, scored another gold in his 200m fly (2:06.31) which qualifies him to SEAG 2014 too.

Tan Gin Yu pocketed 2 gold in 400m IM and 200m fly

In addition to the trio who have gained entry to SEAG 2014, other IBSC swimmers who also made it are Desmond Ng, Tan Rou Ying, Kimberly Ong and Sebastian Soon.

Desmond, 14, a breaststroke specialist and first time medallists in NAG swept 3 gold in the 200m breast (2:27.23), 100m breast (1:08.01) and 200m IM (2:17.00).

Desmond Ng 

Rou Ying,14 , who came in second in both 50m and 100m free, behind Hong Kong swimmers nevertheless made the cut into SEAG 2014. She also has a bronze in her 100m fly event.

Tan Rou Ying, springing to a plunge

Kimberly Ong, gained entry to SEAG in her freestyle events

Kimberly Ong, 13 was not disadvantaged at all in her own age Group 2 even though a year younger than her compatriots. In the 50m and 100m free events, this bronze medalists gained her entry into the SEAG 2014 by finishing just below the qualifying marks.

Sebastian Soon,12, has also shown promising talent in his 1500m free as he shed close to a minute against his own PB with a winning time of 17:56.09, earning him a ticket to SEAG 2014 under the Group 3 boys category.

Sebastian Soon collected 1 gold and 5 silver in his individual events

Indeed IBSC swimmers have put up a great challenge against the stronger teams and we trust they will continue to achieve better times.

Below are the achievements of our IBSC swimmers. CONGRATULATIONS to both swimmers and their respective coaches!

GROUP 4 BOYS	Qualified for	Gold	Silver	Bronze
David Ong (10)		200m IM 50m breast 100m breast 4x100m medley relay	4x100m free relay	100m free 50m fly 50m free
Zachary Lim (10)		4x100m medley relay	200m free 50m back 4x100m free relay	200m IM 100m back
Sharizan Shazali (10)		4x100m medley relay	4x100m free relay
GROUP 3 BOYS		Gold	Silver	Bronze
Sebastian Soon (12)	*SEAG *SEAG	1500m free*	100m fly 400m free 400m IM* 50m fly 200m free 4x100m medley relay
Low Ken Ji (12)				1500m free 200m fly
Iqmal Muqhis b. Faizal (12)			4x100m medley relay
GROUP 2 BOYS		Gold	Silver	Bronze
Wong Jun Bin (14)	*SEAG,#YOG(B) *SEAG *SEAG, #YOG(B) *SEAG	100m free* 1500m free*(OR) 400m IM* (OR) 200m free*	100m fly*# (OR) 400m free* 200m fly*# (OR)	4x100m free relay
Desmond Ng (14)	*SEAG	200m breast* 200m IM 100m breast		4x100m medley relay
Adam Afif b. Faizal (14)				50m breast
Goh Yue Hong (14)				4x100m free relay 4x100m medley relay
Anson Chew (13)				4x100m free relay 4x100m medley relay
Howard Sim (14)				4x100m free relay
Kenneth Ong (14)				4x100m medley relay
GROUP 1 BOYS		Gold	Silver	Bronze
Tan Gin Yu (17)	*SEAG	400m IM (OR) 200m fly* 4x100m medley relay	4x100m free relay
Keith Lim (16)	*SEAG, #YOG(B)	100 fly (OR)*# 4x100m medley relay	4x100m free relay	50m fly 50m free
Nicholas Soon (15)		4x100m medley relay		200m breast
Stefan Steiner (15)			4x100m free relay

*Qualified for SEA Age Group Swimming Championship 2014, Singapore

#Qualified for 2^nd Youth Olympic Games, Nanjing 2014 (B)

(OR) – NAG Open Record 

GROUP 4 GIRLS	Qualified for	Gold	Silver	Bronze
Yeong Zhen Yi (10)		100m breast	50m breast 50m fly 50m free 4x100m free relay	200m free 50m back 4x100m medley relay
Asley Chow (10)			4x100m free relay
Ashley Ting (10)			4x100m free relay	4x100m medley relay
Ng Zi Syuen (9)				4x100m medley relay
GROUP 3 GIRLS		Gold	Silver	Bronze
Shannen Kay Chan (12)		50m fly		100m fly 4x100m free relay 4x100m medley relay
Phoebe Law (12)				200m back 4x100m free relay 4x100m medley relay
Karla Lim (12)				4x100m free relay 4x100m medley relay
Pun Pei Jin 11)				4x100m free relay
GROUP 2 GIRLS		Gold	Silver	Bronze
Tan Rou Ying (14)	*SEAG *SEAG		100m free* 50m free* 4x100m free relay 4x100m medley relay	100m fly
Kimberly Ong (13)	*SEAG *SEAG		4x100m free relay 4x100m free relay	100m free* 50m free*
Yap Li Wen  (14)			4x100m free relay 4x100m free relay	200m breast 100m breast
Carynn Kay Chan (14)			50m breast 4x100m free relay 4x100m free relay
GROUP 1 GIRLS		Gold	Silver	Bronze
Mak Ai Sin (17)			400m IM

*Qualified for SEA Age Group Swimming Championship 2014, Singapore

Download Full Results of 50th Malaysia NAG 2014

Happy Group 4 boys, (L-R) Sharizan, David Ong, Zachary Lim and Brandon Chin

Yeong Zhen Yi, 10, displayed good time in her pet event to claim gold in 100m breast. Zhen Yi also took 3 silver and 2 bronze in her other individual events.

Shannen Chan in orange suit triumphed in Group 3 girls 50m fly by winning gold and taking the bronze in 100m fly.

Group 3 boys, (L-R) Jia Jing, Sean Goh, Kenji and Iqmal Muqhis

Peer support, (L-R) Anson, Howard, Ching Hwang, Keith, Jin Jie and Gin Yu (front)

Coach Shazali, Coach Kamal with Nicholas Soon

View more photos for the 3-day competition at IBSC Gallery.

Sin Chew Article

IBSC Team Briefing for Sport Excel 2014, Leg 1

Kindly be informed that a team briefing for IBSC swimmers for Sport Excel 2014, Leg 1 will be held as above.

All registered swimmers are encouraged to attend especially those participating for the first time in Sport Excel.

The travel itinerary, bus and room listing together with leave letter will be distributed on that day.

Your attendance is highly appreciated.

- IBSC Committee -

The NST : WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS: Malaysian duo meet qualifying marks

KEVIN Yeap and Khoo Cai Lin have qualified for the World Aquatics Championships while 14 divers have been selected for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

  The swimmers met the qualifying mark of their respective events at the National Age-Group Championships which concluded yesterday in Bukit Jalil.

   Kevin, a Sea Games champion, held off Vernon Lee's strong challenge to win the men's Open 1,500m freestyle in 3:58.43. He surpassed the world meet B qualifying mark of 3:58.95.

   Multiple Sea Games gold medallist Cai Lin finished in 4:21.02 to rewrite the meet record of 4:29.40 in the girls' Open 400m freestyle. Her time was under the world meet mark of  4:21.31. The World Championships will be held in Kazan next year.

   On Saturday, national swimmer Lim Ching Hwang dipped under the Youth Olympics A qualifying time in the 100m freestyle.

  He clocked a new meet record of 50.95 to win the boys' 15-17 100m freestyle. The time was under the qualifying mark of 51.46. The Youth Olympics will be held in Nanjing in August.

  Singapore-based Wong Jun Bin was the star of the competition, dominating the boys' 13-15 age-group category.

  The 15-year-old bagged four gold medals, three in record times.

  Jun Bin won gold in the 400m individual medley, 100m and 200m as well as the 1,500m freestyle.
   He took silver in the 100m and 200m butterfly, and 400m freestyle.

   Meanwhile, national diving coach Yang Zhuliang has named a big squad for the Commonwealth Games. The men's team comprise Myanmar Sea Games triple gold medallist Ooi Tze Liang, Nazreen Abdullah, Chew Yiwei and Ahmad Amsyar Azman.

   Reigning champion Pandelela Rinong, Leong Mun Yee, Cheong Jun Hoong, Wendy Ng, Traisy Vivien Tukiet, Nur Dhabitah Sabri, Kam Ling Kar, Loh Zhiayi and Jasmine Lai make up the women's squad.

  Zhuliang is still weighing his options ahead of the competition  as each country can submit two pairs for the synchro disciplines.

  The coach, however, does not have enough quality divers in the men's squad.

  "Except for Tze Liang-Ahmad Amsyar in the 3m springboard synchro, the others are still not good enough to deliver in Glasgow," said Zhuliang.

   The divers will resume their season in the third leg of the World Series in London on April 25-27.


Read more: SWIMMING: Kevin, Cai Lin flying - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/swimming-kevin-cai-lin-flying-1.565657#ixzz2yp2FzNgI