Games surprises for Erika
NATIONAL swimmer Erika Kong admitted that she was surprised to be included in the national team for next year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Indonesia Asian Games.
Erika, who has been named by the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia for the two Games alongside fellow breaststroker Phee Jinq En and freestyler Welson Sim, said she did not expect to be included as she did not win any medal at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games (KL2017).
Malaysia’s swimmers found the going tough at KL2017 with only Jinq En (twice) and backstroker Caroline Chan finishing on the podium in the women’s competition. Despite not winning a medal, Erika did well to renew her personal bests over 50m and 100m at KL2017.
“I was quite surprised when I found out about it in the news,” said Erika yesterday.
“I was only expecting those with medals to go but still, it will be nice to compete at the Asian and Commonwealth Games again.
“It will be my third Commonwealth Games (after 2010, 2014) and second Asian Games (2010).”
The Sarawakian added that she is hoping to shave half a second off her 100m best of one minute and 11.03 seconds at the games.
“My coach (Paul Birmingham) said I can take off half a second from my 100m if I can improve my starting technique as well as my pull-downs.”
Erika earned a bronze in the 50m event at the 2015 Singapore Sea Games.
She won both the 50m and 100m gold at the Asean University Games in Singapore last year. Fadhli Ishak