Monday, 28 December 2015
Tuesday, 15 December 2015
The Star : Saravanan: Costly to send athletes to Sarawak for Sukma
KUALA LUMPUR: The high cost of sending athletes, which includes flight expenses, to the Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Sarawak next year is one of the reasons why there are fewer athletes participating in the Games, the Dewan Negara was told.
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said the ministry was negotiating with several airlines to subsidise the cost of flying.
“We are aware of the constraints and we are looking for ways to reduce the cost and provide opportunities for more talented athletes to compete,” he said in reply to a supplementary question by Senator Datuk Ng Chiang Chin.
Saravanan said the ministry was planning to send athletes with the prospect of winning medals as well as to gain experience and exposure.
He added that Sukma, which started in 1986, had proved to be successful in achieving the objectives of developing athletes and constructing sports facilities.
“In terms of development, Sukma has managed to unearth and identify young talent with the potential to excel in various sports. It also allows each state an opportunity to build and upgrade its sports facilities.
“This is because the Sukma is hosted on a rotation basis every two years to ensure that every state has sports facilities for grassroots development,” he said.
Regarding the expenses involved in organising Sukma, Saravanan said the amount varies according to the state because it depended on the existing sports facilities and construction of new facilities.
Usually, the host state will apply directly to the Finance Ministry for allocations for the construction and upgrading of the sports venue identified, he added. — Bernama
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk M. Saravanan said the ministry was negotiating with several airlines to subsidise the cost of flying.
“We are aware of the constraints and we are looking for ways to reduce the cost and provide opportunities for more talented athletes to compete,” he said in reply to a supplementary question by Senator Datuk Ng Chiang Chin.
Saravanan said the ministry was planning to send athletes with the prospect of winning medals as well as to gain experience and exposure.
He added that Sukma, which started in 1986, had proved to be successful in achieving the objectives of developing athletes and constructing sports facilities.
“In terms of development, Sukma has managed to unearth and identify young talent with the potential to excel in various sports. It also allows each state an opportunity to build and upgrade its sports facilities.
“This is because the Sukma is hosted on a rotation basis every two years to ensure that every state has sports facilities for grassroots development,” he said.
Regarding the expenses involved in organising Sukma, Saravanan said the amount varies according to the state because it depended on the existing sports facilities and construction of new facilities.
Usually, the host state will apply directly to the Finance Ministry for allocations for the construction and upgrading of the sports venue identified, he added. — Bernama
Friday, 11 December 2015
The Star : Swimmer Cai Lin eyeing third Olympic outing
BY RAJES PAUL
KUALA LUMPUR: Two-time Olympic swimmer Khoo Cai Lin believes that the new year will bring good tidings.
The seasoned campaigner, who will turn 27 on Christmas day, feels that she’s ready to clock faster times and book her third Olympic Games ticket.
Cai Lin swam in the 800m freestyle event at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, but her participation in the Rio de Janeiro Games in Brazil next August is still in the balance.
The five-time SEA Games champion admitted that this had been a rough year for her.
“It has been a little rough for me. I did really well at the Malaysian Open (won the 800m freestyle). I wanted to do better at the SEA Games, but was diagnosed with tonsillitis just two weeks before the Games in Singapore (in June),” said Cai Lin.
“I stopped halfway through my 400m individual medley race ... I also pulled out of the 800m freestyle, which was a first for me since my debut in 2003,
“I only managed one silver medal (400m freestyle) in my seventh SEA Games.”
Cai Lin had never failed to win gold medals in the last four editions of the SEA Games – 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013.
At the World Championships in Kazan in August, Cai Lin clocked 4:18.75 to finish 31st out of 49 competitors in the women’s 400m freestyle heats.
Having seen youngsters like Welson Sim (men’s 400m freestyle), Wong Fu Kang (100m breaststroke) and Phee Jinq En (women’s 100m breaststroke) stepping up to the plate this year, Cai Lin believes she still has the fire in her belly to make an impact.
“My passion and love for the sport keeps me going. Swimming keeps me calm ... everything else just ‘drowns out’ when I’m in the water,” she said.
“I still believe that I have a chance to qualify for the Games. I managed to make the cut under the B category for the Rio Games during the SEA Games in the 400m freestyle. But those in this category will only know in July if we will be competing or not.
“I will start competing again next year to lower my times and hopefully get a place in the Olympics.”
Asked if the Rio Games will be her last, Cai Lin, who is pursuing a double degree in public relations and marketing at Taylor’s University, said: “I will see how it goes.”
KUALA LUMPUR: Two-time Olympic swimmer Khoo Cai Lin believes that the new year will bring good tidings.
The seasoned campaigner, who will turn 27 on Christmas day, feels that she’s ready to clock faster times and book her third Olympic Games ticket.
Cai Lin swam in the 800m freestyle event at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympics, but her participation in the Rio de Janeiro Games in Brazil next August is still in the balance.
The five-time SEA Games champion admitted that this had been a rough year for her.
“It has been a little rough for me. I did really well at the Malaysian Open (won the 800m freestyle). I wanted to do better at the SEA Games, but was diagnosed with tonsillitis just two weeks before the Games in Singapore (in June),” said Cai Lin.
“I stopped halfway through my 400m individual medley race ... I also pulled out of the 800m freestyle, which was a first for me since my debut in 2003,
“I only managed one silver medal (400m freestyle) in my seventh SEA Games.”
Cai Lin had never failed to win gold medals in the last four editions of the SEA Games – 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013.
At the World Championships in Kazan in August, Cai Lin clocked 4:18.75 to finish 31st out of 49 competitors in the women’s 400m freestyle heats.
Having seen youngsters like Welson Sim (men’s 400m freestyle), Wong Fu Kang (100m breaststroke) and Phee Jinq En (women’s 100m breaststroke) stepping up to the plate this year, Cai Lin believes she still has the fire in her belly to make an impact.
“My passion and love for the sport keeps me going. Swimming keeps me calm ... everything else just ‘drowns out’ when I’m in the water,” she said.
“I still believe that I have a chance to qualify for the Games. I managed to make the cut under the B category for the Rio Games during the SEA Games in the 400m freestyle. But those in this category will only know in July if we will be competing or not.
“I will start competing again next year to lower my times and hopefully get a place in the Olympics.”
Asked if the Rio Games will be her last, Cai Lin, who is pursuing a double degree in public relations and marketing at Taylor’s University, said: “I will see how it goes.”
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
The Star : Malaysian teenage swimmers rule the pool in Vietnam
BY LIM TEIK HUAT
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian teenagers Welson Sim, Wong Fu Kang and Phee Jinq En (pic, below) stamped their mark as the region's brightest prospects in the pool with record-breaking efforts in the 39th South-East Asian Age-group Swimming Championships in Danang, Vietnam.
Welson brought his memorable season to a close by completing a sweep of the middle and long distance titles in the boys' 16-18 age category for the second successive year.
He powered his way to a personal best of 15:35.66 in winning the 1,500m freestyle – and enjoyed the satisfaction of beating home favourite Lam Quang Nhat.
Welson improved on his previous meet record of 15:57.51.
The Vietnamese, who is also the reigning SEA Games champion and record holder for the 1,500m freestyle, came in second in 15:48.05.
The 18-year-old Welson had earlier beaten Quang Nhat to the 400m freestyle gold medal in superb fashion. He clocked 3:54.97 to shear nearly six seconds off his own meet record of 4:00.45, which he set last year.
On Saturday, Sarawak-born Welson started by smashing his own 200m freestyle meet record of 1:52.62 by clocking 1:49.32. He got his fourth gold in the 100m freestyle in 51.50.
Singapore SEA Games gold medallist Wong Fu Kang was not to be outdone. He won both the 50m and 100m breaststroke events in the same age group as Welson's.
The Phuket-based 17-year-old smashed Singaporean Darrin Lam’s record of 29.68 set in 2012 by winning the 50m breaststroke in 29.43, and completed his winning act by clocking 1:04.12 in the 100m event – erasing the previous mark of 1:04.85 set by Christopher Cheong of Singapore last year.
Jinq En was also in the mood.
She clocked 1:10.63 to break former Malaysian SEA Games champion Christina Loh’s record of 1:11.29, set in 2011, for the girls’ 100m breaststroke gold medal in the 16-18 age category.
The 18-year-old from Selangor secured her hat-trick of breaststroke titles by claiming the 50m (32.65) and 200m (2:39.86) gold medals as well.
“It’s been a long and exhausting season for these group of swimmers, starting from the Malaysian Open in March in Bukit Jalil ... credit to them for still being able to break meet records despite having little time to rest,” said national coach Paul Birmingham Thomas
Malaysia’s Foong Wei Tze finished joint champion with Singapore’s Teong Tzen Wei in the boys’ 16-18 age group 50m freestyle event. Both clocked 23.94, with Welson taking bronze in 24.23.
Sarawak-born Angela Chieng came out tops in the girls’ 16-18 age group 400m and 800 freestyle races while Nadia Adrianna Redza won in the girls’ 400m individual medley.
PETALING JAYA: Malaysian teenagers Welson Sim, Wong Fu Kang and Phee Jinq En (pic, below) stamped their mark as the region's brightest prospects in the pool with record-breaking efforts in the 39th South-East Asian Age-group Swimming Championships in Danang, Vietnam.
Welson brought his memorable season to a close by completing a sweep of the middle and long distance titles in the boys' 16-18 age category for the second successive year.
He powered his way to a personal best of 15:35.66 in winning the 1,500m freestyle – and enjoyed the satisfaction of beating home favourite Lam Quang Nhat.
Welson improved on his previous meet record of 15:57.51.
The Vietnamese, who is also the reigning SEA Games champion and record holder for the 1,500m freestyle, came in second in 15:48.05.
The 18-year-old Welson had earlier beaten Quang Nhat to the 400m freestyle gold medal in superb fashion. He clocked 3:54.97 to shear nearly six seconds off his own meet record of 4:00.45, which he set last year.
On Saturday, Sarawak-born Welson started by smashing his own 200m freestyle meet record of 1:52.62 by clocking 1:49.32. He got his fourth gold in the 100m freestyle in 51.50.
Singapore SEA Games gold medallist Wong Fu Kang was not to be outdone. He won both the 50m and 100m breaststroke events in the same age group as Welson's.
The Phuket-based 17-year-old smashed Singaporean Darrin Lam’s record of 29.68 set in 2012 by winning the 50m breaststroke in 29.43, and completed his winning act by clocking 1:04.12 in the 100m event – erasing the previous mark of 1:04.85 set by Christopher Cheong of Singapore last year.
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| Malaysian freestyle swimmer Welson Sim at the Singapore SEA Games in June. - the STAR Filepic |
Jinq En was also in the mood.
She clocked 1:10.63 to break former Malaysian SEA Games champion Christina Loh’s record of 1:11.29, set in 2011, for the girls’ 100m breaststroke gold medal in the 16-18 age category.
The 18-year-old from Selangor secured her hat-trick of breaststroke titles by claiming the 50m (32.65) and 200m (2:39.86) gold medals as well.
“It’s been a long and exhausting season for these group of swimmers, starting from the Malaysian Open in March in Bukit Jalil ... credit to them for still being able to break meet records despite having little time to rest,” said national coach Paul Birmingham Thomas
Malaysia’s Foong Wei Tze finished joint champion with Singapore’s Teong Tzen Wei in the boys’ 16-18 age group 50m freestyle event. Both clocked 23.94, with Welson taking bronze in 24.23.
Sarawak-born Angela Chieng came out tops in the girls’ 16-18 age group 400m and 800 freestyle races while Nadia Adrianna Redza won in the girls’ 400m individual medley.
Monday, 7 December 2015
Results of 39th SEA Age Group Swimming Championship 2015, Vietnam
The results of the 39th SEA Age Group Swimming Championship 2015 which was held in Danang, Vietnam can be downloaded from the Swim Results Page.
IBSC lost grip of the 2015 President Cup champion trophy
It was disappointing to see IBSC giving up its top position to PADE in the recent 34th National Inter-Club Swimming Championship 2015 just last week at the Aquatic Stadium Hang Jebat in Melaka. The absence of many key swimmers in the meet could be partly attributable to the lost as many were away at higher level clashing meets in Asean School Games, Brunei and SIPMA in Perlis and some in the midst of having their SPM examinations.
PADE Supersharkz topped the points accumulation by earning 1,223 points trailed by IBSC (761) and DSA (549) in the third position.
With the absence of the seniors, IBSC will need time and effort to groom the younger groups' swimmers as many of younger age bracket have not been fully developed into their full potentials yet. Coaches and swimmers have much work to do towards achieving this goal.
In the 3-day competition for President Cup 2015, which started from 27 Nov to 29 Nov, 2015, Team IBSC scored poorly in terms of points as already foreseen. Nevertheless, each point counts and we are grateful to swimmers who were well focused in their swims to earn points for the club. The point achievers are as tabulated below.
Congratulations to high points achievers.
The full meet results can be downloaded here.
As a comforting factor, the spirit of team togetherness was commendable as swimmers camped and cheered in unity. The team has had a pleasant stay at Herald Hotel, Melaka and parents have chances of enjoying the sumptuous nyonya food in the historic city.
Thanks to the Team Manager, Mr Vincent Low, Assistant Team Manager, Mr Lim See Jeow and Ms Tanya and Puan Zainon as chaperons, in taking care of the swimmers during the meet. Coaches too have rendered their fair share of effort in making sure the team outing has ran smoothly.
We shall work towards getting back the trophy again next year. To achieve this, all swimmers need to work hard and be focus in training.
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| Team IBSC prior to departing to Melaka |
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| Ian James Barr collected most points for IBSC with 2 gold and 2 silver |
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| Yeong Zhen Yi, Ashley Ting and Pun Pei Jin |
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| Adam won a gold and a silver in his breaststroke events |
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| Steve Khiew obtained one gold and 2 silver |
*Photo credits to parents and swimmers of IBSC
For more photos, view the IBSC Gallery.
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