IBSC swimmers all geared up for Sport Excel Leg 2 after a superb performance in Leg 1

IBSC swimmers are all eager and geared up yet another round for Sport Excel Junior Swimming Circuit 2014. Leg 2 shall be repeated again at the same venue in Malacca on 21-22 June, 2014.

On 3-4 May, 2014, the Leg 1 of the junior circuit went on well at Stadium Hang Jebat Melaka with not much interruption as Team IBSC emerged again as the overall champion club in Leg 1 after securing 27 gold, 22 silver and 22 bronze. IBSC collected a total of 3523.5 points on top of the table, followed by PADE (2902 points) and Penang Swimming Club (1166 points).

Congratulation to all IBSC swimmers for a great team work in Leg 1 and hopefully our victory can be repeated again in Leg 2.

Medal tally for Leg 1 of all participating clubs

One record was also broken by our breaststroke specialist, Desmond Ng in 100m breaststroke with a new time of 1:07.90, even though it may not be his best time yet. Desmond erased a 7-year old record belonging to Lau Zheng Fong (ISC) of 1:08.77 (2007). In the 50m breastsroke event, he managed a bronze medal.

Desmond Ng on his way to the new golden record in 100m breaststroke

IBSC's boy top performer for Leg 1 was David Ong where he collected 4 gold (50m and 100m breaststroke, 50m and 100m free), 2 silver (50m and 100m backstroke) and 1 bronze (50m butterfly).

David Ong with great fighting spirit won 4 gold, 2 silver and 1 bronze

Meanwhile, David's sister, Kimberly Ong, also excelled in the top girls category where she swam to 3 gold (50m backstroke, 50m butterfly, 100m free), 2 silver (100m breaststroke, 50m free) and 3 bronze (100m butterfly, 50m breaststroke, 100m backstroke).

Kimberly Ong, top points earner for IBSC

The club is also appreciative of the point contributors below. Every effort swum by the swimmers fetched points to elevate the club as the top winner for Leg 1. Well done to all of them!

The IBSC girls dominated the top 3 points winners

The IBSC parents were also very grateful, especially those not able to join and witness their children swimming, as the committee has created, for the first time ever, a SXL1 Live Feed via What's App to post event callings and instant results (complete with split time) to the parents. Thanks to En Masron, the Assistant Secretary of IBSC for mooting this innovative idea. Snapshots were also shared by many parents contributing to the chat group actively.

Chaperones busy with their voluntary work

Overall, IBSC has a successful and cheerful outing to Melaka for Leg 1. Credits to the Organising Committee, especially to Team Manager Mr JY Teo, Assistant Team Manager En.  Masron Mohamad, Chaperones Puan Zainon Othman, Mrs Tharani Lee and Mr Vincent Low.

Appreciation also goes to all coaches involved in guiding and taking care of the swimmers.

Until we meet again in Leg 2 (21st -22nd June, 2014).

For Full Results of Sport Excel Leg 1, please view here.

Team IBSC ready to depart to Melaka for Leg 1

The Group 4 boys having a great time in the swim meet while waiting for their events

Iqmal Muqhis has grown stronger winning 3 gold and 1 bronze

Girls just wanna have fun!

Team Spirit - Go IBSC Go!

View more photos at IBSC Gallery.

38th SEA Age Group Swimming Championship 2014 - Day 1 Results

See full results here.

The Star : Sukma losing it's prestige and reputation fast

BY LOGANATH VELLOO

KANGAR: As THE curtains came down on the 17th Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perlis, the two-week sporting event will be best remembered for the delay in completing the venues, and the finger pointings which ensued.

Despite spending millions and having two years to get things done, the organising committee should hang their heads in shame for failing to meet the Games’ most basic requirement – getting the competition venues ready in time.

But of far greater consequence to the future of the Under-21 sporting event is the public apathy towards the Games.

Almost all the 24 sports hosted in Perlis were contested in front of that particular sport’s athletes and their family members.

There were cheer groups from contingents like Federal Territories and Selangor, but only a handful of spectators from the public can be seen at the venues.

There were exceptions like the opening and closing ceremonies, and the badminton and football competitions, which drew in the crowd.

Football grabbed the attention of the masses in Perlis due to the hosts’ strong run to the semi-finals.

Despite it being the first-ever multi-sport event held in the tiny northern state and the organisers’ putting up giant billboards and banners in Kangar and other towns, the Games failed to generate much interest or support from the public.

The lack of interest is not just restricted to those in Perlis. Not many people throughout the country followed the proceedings of the 17th Sukma.

It is a far cry from the last two decades, when many tuned in to watch the Sukma proceedings on television or followed their state’s fortunes through the newspapers.

Who could forget the famous Watson Nyambek vs Azmi Ibrahim 100m dash showdown in Kuantan in 1996 or the Lee Chong Wei vs Muhammad Hafiz Hashim badminton final at the 2002 Games in Kota Kinabalu.

The lack of star athletes in Perlis is possibly the biggest reason for the disinterest.

It does not help that the Games was held in the period when everybody’s attention was on other sporting events like the Thomas Cup and both the football and hockey World Cups.

It would be better if Sukma is held during the year-end school holidays, when the sporting calendar is less congested.

The decision to make Sukma an annual affair also contributed to the event’s loss of prestige.

At present, several minor sports and the sports not contested by the host states will be organised in the ‘mini Sukma’ in Kuala Lumpur, which is held in the odd-numbered years.

The idea of allowing those denied the opportunity to compete in the proper Sukma to feature in Kuala Lumpur is commendable. However, it dilutes the prestige of Sukma, which is important to maintain the interest from the public towards the Games.

Hopefully, the next hosts Sarawak will do a better job in 2016 in returning the Sukma competition to its glory days.

The State Aquatic Centre's roof collapse proved to be the 17th Sukma's highlight in the end. - filepic

2 SUKMA bronze for Tan Rou Ying

Tan Rou Ying had a gratifying outing in SUKMA 2014, Perlis as she managed to pocket 2 bronze in 50m backstroke and 100m butterfly.

On day 2 of the bi-annual championship, Rou Ying qualified in the morning heats with a time of 33.00 and later in the afternoon, she swam to third at 31.97, narrowly missing a silver, after the more senior girls Caroline Chan (Sel) touched at 30.54 and Chris Tan (Sbh) at 31.90.

Rou Ying made her first appearance in SUKMA 2012, Kuantan where she had a bronze in the same 50m backstroke event.

Rou Ying's favourite event earned her a bronze in 50m backstroke

Rou Ying's medals achievement

On the last day of the penultimate event, Rou Ying also scrambled to bronze in the 100m butterfly by clocking 1:05.52 after Selangor's duo, Yap Siew Hui and Asmalia Filzati, who reached first at 1:01.97 and 1:04.25 respectively.

Earlier on the opening day, Rou Ying together with other Wilayah girls, Christina Loh, Ong Lin Fen and Mak Ai Sin were awarded silver in the 4x100m medley relay when they swam to finish second behind Selangor at a time of 4:29.81.

The SUKMA 2014 Swimming Results can be downloaded here.