KUCHING: An additional200 new swimmers are expected to be produced and to be absorbed into the swimming development programme throughout Sarawak.
Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) acting chief executive officer (CEO) Semawi Mohamad said that it is hoped that this could be achieved after the completion of SSC’s Swimming Series.
“This competition aims to enable all athletes throughout Sarawak to gauge their ability after not being involved in any tournament for a long time due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Through this competition, we can also identify the talents and abilities of swimming athletes throughout Sarawak,” he said during the closing ceremony of the first leg of the Swimming Series at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya on Sunday (Jan 23).
He added that the holding of swimming series is also indirectly able to cultivate high interest and sportsmanship among swimmers.
“Thus, it is believed that there will be some new swimmers who have the potential to represent the state,” he said.
Semawi also mentioned that producing international sports champions to excel in popular sports requires comprehensive planning and cooperation from all parties, parents to state sports bodies and determine the ranking of the state among youth players throughout the state, state, nation and the world.
Later the closing ceremony also saw the prize giving ceremony to best performing boys and girls swimmers.
Also present was SSC swimming development officer Lisa Ludong.
For the record, the first leg of the SSC’s Swimming Series saw 96 swimmers from Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu competing in 60 events from Jan 22 to 23.
The competition is divided into three age groups namely, for 12 to 14 years old, 15 to 17 years old, and 18 to 23 years old.
For the remaining series, it will take place in Miri in April, Sibu in July, and the final series in Kuching in October.
