KUCHING, April 27: Young swimmers from Power Aquatics Swimming Club (PASC) won 42 medals in the 26th Brunei Age Group Swimming Championship at the Hassanal Bolkiah Swimming Pool, Brunei from April 20-22.
According to a press statement, it was the second time the team participated in this event.
The team clinched 6 golds, 14 silvers, and 22 bronzes. After the tally, the team was ranked 4th for the total number medals won in the meet.
PASC had sent 12 contestants aged 8 to 12. The medal winners were Bibienne Ong, Ong Chuan Yen, Sara Tham, Casper Tan, Dylan Leong, Darren Leong, Ong Zong Lian, Presley Phang, and Julius Abbas.
Altogether, 235 swimmers from 12 swimming clubs from Sarawak, Labuan, Brunei and the Philippines participated in the event with swimmers ranging from 7 to 18-years-old.
The Royal Brunei Recreation Club emerged the overall champion followed by Gymkhana Club Miri (second) and Bruine Speed Swimming Club (third).
“Getting our junior swimmers to splash it out in this competition gives them very good exposure. In fact, we could have won more medals if we had sent more of our swimmers to take part. Some of our best swimmers did not join due to limited funds,” PASC president Tan Kun Gee said.
He also said for their next competition this coming May 11-13, PASC will be sending 13 swimmers to participate in ASUM/NSC/MILO Junior Splash Swim Leg 1 at Bukit Jalil.
He expressed his hope that the club would receive more support from the government so as to enable the swimmers to gain more exposure which is crucial for the development of the athletes’ skills and sportsmanship.
He lamented that one of the biggest hindrances faced by the club is that it has limited space for its swimmers to train, and this is also the main reason behind why they cannot take in more swimmers for training.
Kun Gee said he could see that the swimmers were dedicated and passionate in the aquatic sport, and that all that is needed is to provide them with facilities to let them cultivate their full potential.
“This is one area which I hope the government can help us,” he added. — DayakDaily
