51st Sabah Invitational Age Group C’ship kicks off swimming calendar
KOTA KINABALU: The swimming calendar for this year starts off with a record entry in this week’s 51st Sabah Invitational Age Group Swimming Championship.
The championship will take place at the Aquatic Centre at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas here from January 12-14.
Co-hosted by Sabah Aquatic Sports Association (SASA) and Sea Dragon Swimming Club (SDSC), a record number of 467 athletes including able-bodied and para swimmers from 13 teams across Sabah, Labuan and Brunei will be taking part.
The championship will serve as a platform for local swimmers of all age groups to test their ability and skills to represent Sabah in this year’s Malaysia Invitational Age Group 2018 in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur in March.
“On top of that, Sabah’s best will fight for their places to represent the state at this year’s Sukma (Malaysia Games) which Perak will host in September,” said SASA president Anthony Kiob in a statement yesterday.
He said the championship this year would also see Amateur Swimming Union Malaysia (ASUM) offering technical support in hopes of improving and standardising the technical knowhow of officials across the nation.
“As the organising chairman, I want to congratulate the organising committee for staging the annual championship.
“I would like to welcome all the invited teams and thank the support of SASA’s affiliated clubs to make these initiatives as our main source for new talents, and hoped that the talent pool will continue to grow,” he added.
Anthony also extended his warmest gratitude to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Sabah Sports Council and Sabah Sports Board as well as generous sponsors for all the support provided into making this championship possible.