The Star : Malaysia finish overall champions in Asean Schools Games

PETALING JAYA: A seven-gold rush helped Malaysia to finish as overall champions in the Asean Schools Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Golds from squash, badminton, volleyball and swimming on the final day of competition yesterday saw the host contingent finish on top with 37 golds, 34 silvers and 32 bronzes.

Indonesia, who had announced their intention to become overall champions on their arrival here, settled for second with 31-36-30. Malaysia ended undefeated in the boys’ and girls’ squash team events with wins over the Philippines (3-0) and Indonesia (3-0) respectively.

Noor Aina Amani beat Yee Xin Ying 6-11, 11-9, 11-9, 12-10 in an-all Malaysian final affair later.

Roi King later combined with Ooi Jhy Dar to beat teammates Wan Muhammad Arif Junaidi-Wyman Goh 21-18, 21-12 in the boys’ doubles final.

Malaysia also contested the boys’ and girls’ singles finals but lost both.

Jacky Kok lost to Indonesia’s Nur Yahya 12-21, 22-20, 19-21. Indonesia also claimed the girls’ singles title through Aisah Galuh Maheswari, who overcame K. Letshanaa 13-21, 21-12, 23-21.

Swimmer Sebastian Soon clinched his third gold medal in as many days in the boys’ 1,500m freestyle. Sebastian, who set a new national record in the 400m individual event on Monday, came out tops in the 1,500m race in 16:09.87.

The boys’ volleyball team claimed the last gold for Malaysia by beating Indonesia 3-1 in the final.

“I’m happy to see very good performances in almost all the sports we took part in. Athletics, gymnastics and squash helped push us to the top spot.

“It is the third time we won the overall title,” said Malaysian head of contingent Zainal Abas, who is also the national athletics chief coach.

Malaysia were also overall champions when they hosted the Asean Schools Games in 2010 and they achieved the feat for the second time in the Philippines in 2014.

In Singapore last year, Malaysia finished fourth overall.

In athletics, Malaysia delivered 10-12-8 while making a clean sweep of all the six gold medals in rhythmic gymnastics.


Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2018/07/26/supreme-at-home-malaysia-finish-overall-champions-in-asean-schools-games/#xjSgSsmYm1Kco04X.99

Triple gold and a national record for Sebastian Soon in Asean School Games 2018

Sebastian Soon, 16, is proud swimmer of IBSC as he scored a hat trick in the recent 10th Asean School Games 2018 which ended yesterday at Shah Alam.

The annual swimming competition hosted by Malaysia this year has been on-going from 22-25 July, 2018.

Sebastian swam impressively in his 400m IM, one of his favourite events, to fasten his first gold on 23 July, 2018, not only to create a new meet record to erase Vietnam's previous time charted in 2017 (4:34.79), but also to book a new national record after he clocked 4:30.85 to over-write Lim Ching Hwang's record of 4:31.01 (2017).

His compatriot KL swimmer, Steve Khiew, 15, maintained his time by coming in 3rd placing with a time of 4:40.59 in the same event.

Sebastian (middle) and Steve Khiew (right) both claim victory in the 400m IM events

Later on the next day, with the confidence boosted, again Sebastian gobbled another gold in the 200m IM event by improving his personal best time by 2s to 2:07.37. Steve Khiew managed a bronze with a new PB of 2:09.99.

Medalists of 200IM events with Sebastian (middle) taking first place and Steve Khiew (right) receiving the bronze.

Sebastian did his parents and coach proud, as he hit 100% target in all the 3 events he participated, cruising to gold yet again in the 1500m freestyle event on the last day. He kept up the tempo in his laps by shedding off 10s from his last PB and did a new faster time of 16:09.87 to claim his final victory.

Sebastian Soon flanked by Indonesia and Singapore swimmers in the 1500m freestyle event during the victory ceremony

Earlier on the opening day, Steve Khiew also managed a silver in his 200m backstroke (2:07.29) after the event's record was broken by Indonesian swimmer, Tangkas, when he set a new record of 2:03.00.

Meanwhile, Steve Khiew and team members including Owen Allwood helped the MAS team propelled to silver in the 4x100m boys medley relay. The event was won by Team Indonesia. 

Team MAS with Steve Khiew, Ng Jing Fu, Low Zheng Yong and Owen Allwood swam to silver in the medley relay event on last day of the competition.

Congratulations to all the medalists.

See more on ASG2018 

Photos courtesy of IBSC parents

Steve and Sebastian both IBSC swimmers

Sebastian with proud mother, Shirley

The Star : Malaysia sweep another seven gold medals to lead standings

Sebastian Soon won the boys’ 200m and 400m individual medley swimming events in the Asean Schools Games yesterday.

PETALING JAYA: Young swimmer Sebastian Soon is on course for a smashing debut at the Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Ipoh in September after an impressive outing in the Asean Schools Games in Kuala Lumpur.

Sebastian clocked 4:30.85 in the boys’ 400m individual medley to break Lim Ching Hwang’s national record of 4:31.01 set at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year.

He also bettered the meet record of 4:34.79 set by Vietnam’s Nguyen Dang Khoa last year.

The 15-year-old earned his double by winning the 200m individual medley final in 2:07.37.

“I improved on my personal best by 2.7 seconds.

“I am happy as this shows I am on the right track to swim well in my first Sukma in Ipoh,” said Sebastian, who is from Kuala Lumpur.

Ng Jing Fu earned his second gold in the Asean Schools Games after he finished first in the boys’ 200m breaststroke in 2:17.86, improving on the previous meet record of 2:19.05 held by Ilham Ahmad Trimudzi of Indonesia since 2016.

There were also record breakers in athletics as Malaysia strengthened their position at the top of the overall standings with seven more golds in the bag.

Athletics contributed three more golds from Nurul Alyahaziqah Kamarazaman (girls’ 3km walk), Grace Wong (girls’ hammer) and the boys’ 4x400m relay.

KL SEA Games gold medallist Grace smashed the meet record of 47.24m belonging to Thai Sawitree Kaewsukri with her third attempt of 59.65m, which later turned out to be the winning throw.

Grace will be pleased with her latest effort as it is not far off her national record of 60.99m set last year.

The boys’ 4x400m team took gold in 3:13.05, breaking the previous record of 3;13.36 set by Thailand in 2016.

There were also gold medals won in table tennis and netball. Youth Olympics-bound paddler Alice Chang impressed by beating Tee Ai Xin 3-2 in an all-Malaysian final for the girls’ singles title while the netball team overcame Singapore 47-26 in the final.

Malaysia lead the medal tally standings with one day to go on 30-26-25.


Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/sport/other-sport/2018/07/25/the-goings-good-malaysia-sweep-another-seven-gold-medals-to-lead-standings/#qD58RctFImvDmVzz.99

Qualifying Times to Asean School Games 2018

Asian School Games 2018 - Qualifying Times

Please note the Qualifying Times released for the Asian School Games 2018

The 10th Asean School Games is scheduled to be held at Shah Alam from 19th July to 23rd July, 2018.

6 IBSC swimmers made it to 9th ASEAN School Games 2017 in Singapore

ASEAN School Games (ASG) is an annual games for high schools in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and organised under the authority of the ASEAN Schools Sports Council (ASSC). The ASSC is an apolitical regional sports council that promotes sports among member countries.

This year, 2017, the Ministry of Education (Singapore) will be hosting the 9th ASEAN Schools Games (ASG) from 13 to 21 July 2017. 9 ASEAN countries will be participating ie.  Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia. The 10 sports that will be organised in this edition are Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Gymnastics, Netball, Sepak Takraw, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tenpin Bowling and Volleyball. Approximately 1800 athletes and officials are expected to participate in this event.

IBSC is extremely proud that 6 of its swimmers have been selected to participate in the 9th ASEAN School Games 2017 in Singapore which will be scheduled from 13-21 July, 2017.

Incidentally all males, they are (clockwise from top) Ng Kai Wen [left], Brandy Chew, Sebastian Soon, Low Ken Ji, Iqmal Muqhis bin Faizal and Steve Khiew Hoe Yean.

The athletes are required to check into a centralised training camp starting this weekend, from 9 - 12 July, 2017 at Johor Sports School prior to crossing the border for the competition.

Eagerly awaiting the camp and regional competition, they expressed their expectations and targets in the school games. Excerpted from the swimmers' messages to the club, they shared their aspiration and hope.

Ng Kai Wen, is feeling simply ecstatic and excited on his maiden appearance in the Asean School Games. "Swim all you can", he expressed it short and precise and "I just expect to improve on my timings", he added.

Sebastian Soon, currently training under the national team, felt excited having the opportunities to meet friends again from other states and countries during the camp and race. On his wish list, he said "I hope the camp will provide healthy food and comfortable place to rest so as to prepare us adequately for the School Games. I think I will perform better if my body condition is good, so lets see....  I  also hope to contribute to Malaysia by winning at least one medal in my pet event, the 400m IM."

Brandy Chew, was rather astonished when he found out his name was in the list of selected swimmers. He expressed "I am really happy that I qualify for ASG. I don't really have a high expectation of myself as the Asean School Games is a competition among all the best swimmers from other countries. All I hope is that I can hit a new personal best and learn something new from a meet of this big scale."

Low Ken Ji, hopes to do well in Singapore for ASG. In the camp, he also hopes to compare notes and see the performance of his team mates. He declared, "I feel that I may not be able to achieve 100% performance but nevertheless I will try my best and in the process hopefully I am able to hit my PBs during the meet."  

 Iqmal Muqhis, a happy-go-lucky guy, was kind of excited in going to the camp and race but with mixed feelings. "I have not been training much because of the fasting month but I will try to swim my best", he responded. "Hopefully I will improve on my time and get a medal"

Steve Khiew,  honoured to be selected once again to ASG, he conveyed "I expect the camp to be an exciting one. I will try my best to win some medals in the meet and hopefully bring back at least one gold for my country. 200m backstroke event could land me a good chance". He went on to say, "I would like to wish all my team mates the best of luck". 

IBSC also wishes all of them the best in the 9th ASEAN School Games 2017, Singapore.

Updates on the school games and results can be tracked via the host's link below.
https://www.moe.gov.sg/microsites/asg2017/desktop/

Meanwhile, the swimming timetable can be viewed here.

#Aseanschoolgames2017

Jun Jian shoveled second silver for Team MAS in Asean School Games on closing day

On the first event competed on the last day of swimming competition in the 8th Asean School Games (ASG) 2016 in Chiang Mai, Thailand, today, Chan Jun Jian was registered in the 1500m freestyle.

Little did he expect that swimming with a focus mind could yield results especially when the other competitors were seeded faster than him.

In the long distance event, he clocked an impressive 17: 05.16 to grab the silver behind Thai swimmer, Wanphen Chakorn, who won with 16:29.43.

Jun Jian's previous PB was 17:23.36 swam in Sept 2015 in the Selangor Long Distance Swimming Championship 2015. It is great achievement indeed to have shed so many seconds!

Interviewed online, here is what an exulting Jun Jian accounted for his silver experience.

"On the first few days of ASG, I only managed 4th in my 400m freestyle and 6th in my 200m freestyle. At that time, I was really disappointed but thanks to my friends and family, I was able to pull through my 1500m freestyle today.

A night before when I saw the start list, I thought I wouldn't stand a chance to win because other swimmers' seeding was a lot faster. So I didn't think too much and just tried to get a new personal best.

As I dived into the pool I paced with a Singaporean swimmer. I continued by best and was happy to able to come in second. It was really unexpected and I am glad to contribute a silver to the country.

Words cannot express my feeling at that time.

I would like to thank my coaches for giving me valuable tips and advise.

My next aim is to qualify to SUKMA in the next 2 years and I will be looking forward to improving my times further."


 CONGRATULATIONS Chan Jun Jian!

Results of Asean School Games 2016, Chiang Mai - Day 4, 26 July 2016

Results of Asean School Games 2016, Chiang Mai - Day 3, 25 July 2016

Desmond picked up silver to break the medal drought in 8th Asean School Games 2016

The Malaysian swimmers participating in the 8th Asean School Games (ASG) 2016 in Chiang Mai, Thailand this week has not been delivering so far in the highly competitive school games until Desmond Ng Yi Hao broke the medal drought on day 3, by claiming silver in his pet event, 200m breaststroke.

Desmond, 17, swam 2:22.09 behind Indonesian Trimudzi Ilham who finished first at 1:19.05. The second runner-up is also Indonesian, Pande Made Iron with a time of 2:22.97.

Desmond is ecstatic with his achievement but still feels that he could have done better as his PB was 2:20.84 clocked in last year's MSSM School Games 2015.

Congratulations to Desmond!

Meanwhile, keep the spirit up and hopefully other team members will also produce some sparkling results soon.

This year, the ASG clashes head on in the same week with SUKMA XVIII 2016 in Kuching, Sarawak. As most elite swimmers opt to do their best in defending their respective states in Sukan Malaysia, the second tier team is left to defend the country in Thailand.

All the best to all.

Results of Asean School Games 2016, Chiang Mai - Day 2, 24 July 2016

Results of Asean School Games 2016, Chiang Mai - Day 1, 23 July 2016