By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 15: SEA Games bronze medallist Job Tan Xi Jay and Sarawak Sukma XXI standouts Chereen Ngo Yi Rui and Ryan Colby Kueh Poh Yuan stole the spotlight at the 2nd Inter-Club Swimming Competition, where an astounding 55 meet records were broken over three action-packed days at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre from May 10 to 12.
According to a media release, Tan, representing Hornbill Swimmers, was crowned Best Swimmer in the Boys 17 & Over category after capturing six gold medals and smashing three meet records.
Tan had previously made waves at the 2022 Hanoi SEA Games with a bronze medal in the men’s 200m breaststroke.
In the Girls 15–16 category, Power Aquatics Swimming Club’s (PASC) Ngo—fresh off her double bronze triumph at Sukma 2024—dominated the pool with an impressive haul of 11 gold medals while setting six new meet records.
Not to be outdone, fellow Sukma swimmer Kueh of Kawaras Swimming Club matched Ngo’s record-breaking feat in the Boys 15–16 division, clinching seven gold medals and rewriting six meet records.
The event, organised by PASC, drew a strong turnout of 218 swimmers from Sabah, Selangor, Sibu, and Kuching.
PASC emerged as the overall champion with a commanding 2,706 points, powered by their 70-member squad. Sibu’s Dashing Dolphin Swimming Club secured second place with 722 points from 26 swimmers, narrowly edging out Sabah’s Sea Dragon Swimming Club, which earned 719 points from a 25-strong team.
The 13–14 age group saw the highest number of meet records fall. PASC’s Sheamus Heng Yi Chew led the charge with eight new records, followed closely by teammate Elisha Ern Lee with six. In the 9–10 category, Larissa Ya Xuan Yii of PASC starred with eight record-breaking swims, while teammate Nathaniel He Jun Chai added four to the tally.
Among the youngest competitors in the 8 & Under category, PASC’s Ilyana Arissa and Samuel Kwong Lik Ling each broke three records, showcasing the promise of Sarawak’s up-and-coming talent.
In the 11–12 age group, Jonas He Xuan Chai set five new records, while Caitlyn Xuan Yeo contributed one. Meanwhile, Kawaras Swimming Club’s Janessa Liew stood out in the senior ranks by breaking two records in the Girls 17 & Over category.
The meet’s 55 record-breaking performances underscored the region’s growing strength in both grassroots and elite-level swimming, reflecting the results of sustained athlete development and competitive exposure.
Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (ASAS) president Dato Wee Hong Seng officiated the closing ceremony. Also in attendance were PASC president Kapitan Tan Kun Gee and organising chairperson Voon Yong Hui, both of whom expressed pride in the meet’s success and optimism for Sarawak’s rising prominence in Malaysian swimming. — DayakDaily
