Sasa face ‘unknown’ challenge in title defence

KUCHING: Sibu Amateur Swimming Association ( Sasa), powered by 28 swimmers, are back to defend their title in the Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Wong Soon Kai Inter- Club Swimming Championship at the Sarawak Aquatic Centre in Petra Jaya from Dec 3- 4.

However, the 2014-2015 overall champions’ bid to make it three in a row is in doubt as most of the better swimmers are absent and competition is expected to be very stiff this time around.

This is especially so with the participation of four invited teams – Pade Supersharkz from Selangor, Sea Dragon Swimming Club and Persatuan Renang Penampang from Sabah and Brunei’s Royal Brunei Recreation

It is very heartening to see many young swimmers registered for this competition which augers well for Sarawak swimming.

Club whose strengths are still unknown.

Local teams like Sarawak Club which is a combination of swimmers from The Sarawak Club and Kuching Amateur Swimming Association ( Kasa) 2010, Miri Amateur Swimming Association ( Masa) and Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association ( Kotas) are all expected to throw a strong challenge for the coveted challenge trophy.

Sasa were crowned the overall champions last year at the Bukit Lima Swimming Pool in Sibu after they collected 1,164 points ahead of Kasa (831) and Kotas (670).

“The response to this year’s championship is overwhelming with 376 swimmers from 14 teams when compared to over 200 swimmers last year,” said organising chairperson Alice Kwon yesterday.

“We also had a record entry of 98 swimmers from outside Sarawak from invited teams like Selangor, Brunei and Sabah,” she revealed.

Alice is also expecting a stiff competition among the teams while hoping for more records to be broken during the two- day meet.

“It is very heartening to see many young swimmers registered for this competition which augers well for Sarawak swimming,” added Alice who felt that the championship will help to uplift the standard of swimming in the state.

Ei ghty- ei ght event s for breaststroke, free style, butterfly, backstroke, individual medley and relay will be held.

Categories competed for both the boys and girls and are Group 1 (15-17 years old), Group 2 (13-14 years old), Group 3 (11-12 years old), Group 4 ( 9-10 years old) and Group 5 (8 years old and under).

The championship organised b y Ama te u r Swimmi n g Association of Sarawak (Asas) are jointly hosted by Kasa and Kotas.

Trophies will be awarded to the best boys team, best girls team and the overall team.

Alice Kwon, organising chairperson