Thursday, 30 April 2009

Malaysia to send 12 swimmers to Singapore for Asian Youth Games

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia look set to be represented by the full swimming squad of six boys and six girls for the inaugural Asian Youth Games in Singapore from June 29-July 7.

The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) had decided earlier that only those who managed to beat the A qualifying time in the national age-group championships in Shah Alam recently would be selected.

The Asian Youth Games are for those aged between 14 and 17 years and aquatics are to be one of the nine Olympic sports contested.

However, Singapore received overwhelming entries from more than 40 countries and had to limit participation because of the lack of accommodation.

But Asum secretary Edwin Chong said they had been informed that Singapore have had a change of mind and would be providing two hotels to cater for the increased number of athletes.

“There was the B qualifying mark in place but we only listed the A mark as we were earlier told that there is a cap on the number of athletes for each sport.

“Under the A mark, we would have about seven or eight who qualified. But now, we have submitted those who qualify under the B mark as well.

“It will be up to the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) to do the selection soon,” he said.

The male swimmers who have qualified are Adam Lim, James Chen, Eric Chang, Ian James Barr, Lau Zheng Fong and Kevin Lim.

The girls are Heidi Loo, Christina Loh, Lai Wei Li, Hii Siew Siew, Erika Kong and Cheng Karmen.

Beijing Olympian Pandelela Rinong, Wendy Ng and Ooi Tzer Liang will be the representatives in diving.

Besides aquatics, the other eight sports are athletics, three-on-three basketball, beach volleyball, bowling, football, sailing, shooting and table tennis.

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