By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Nov 26: Power Aquatics Swimming Club (PASC) president and former State water polo player Kapitan Tan Kun Gee is calling for continuous competitive exposure for water polo athletes through participation in more international competitions.
Tan said such high-level competition would make the Sarawak water polo team more competitive and could make them a powerhouse in water sports.
He hoped to continue the tradition for Sarawak water athletes to be dominant in the water sport like in yesterday years.
Tan said PASC is actively inviting young athletes from Southeast Asian (ASEAN) countries, and said doing so will be good for the water sport in Sarawak.
“We invited these youngsters from overseas clubs so that our young local athletes can get exposure among the same peers and give them the competitive edge to do better in the sport,” he said.
Tan expressed this when met by reporters at the 2nd Kuching Invitational Water Polo Cup Competition 2023 held at Pusat Akuatik Pandelela Rinong Petra Jaya today.
On water polo here, he hoped the Sarawak Sports Council would increase focus on water polo athletes.
“We have five athletes in the game currently selected for the Boys Under-17 age category. So we are excited and it is good for the clubs and the athletes,” he opined.
“These are our good players, and we have submitted their names, Four of them are only 15-years-old and one is 17-years-old.”
Tan expressed optimism, and commended them as young athletes with potential to go far in the sport, even as far as getting selected for the national team and for the SEA Games.
Tan wants to reach out to more players and youngsters aged as young as 13 to be trained.
“With this, our water polo team will be sustainable, and we encourage swimming athletes who are not good enough for the sport to switch to water polo. That is the plan too,” he said. — DayakDaily
