Welson earns praise for latest ‘world-class’ performance
KUCHING: With adequate exposure, persistent training combined with strong sel f discipline, a Sarawak Olympic champion in the aquatic arena may be in the making.
This was the observation of Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan concerning the victory of swimmer Welson Sim Wee Sheng in the men’s 400m freestyle at the Victorian Open Swimming Championships in Melbourne, Australia on Friday.
“This is an achievement of strong will and we are proud and happy for him. He beat the reigning Olympic champion Mack Horton of Australia by clocking a time of 3.54.77.
“More so that he is a Sarawakborn athlete. This shows that we are never short of talents if scouted well,” he said.
According to the Balai Ringin assemblyman, it is always a success story in any sport if one puts his or her mind to it.
“His success is world class. Being young, he would probably be our next Olympic champion.”
“The SEA Games in the Philippines (in December) will be the yardstick where Welson is expected to participate. And the Tokyo Olympics 2020 shall be the destination. Let’s keep our fingers crossed,” added Snowdan.
“And this augurs well for Sarawak who is embarking herself on sporting glory and as a forceful sport power house,” he said.
The assistant minister viewed Welson’s recent success as complimenting the success stories of our past athletes such as Tania Bugo in swimming, Watson Nyambek the Flying Dayak in athletics, Azlan Iskandar in squash, Pandelela Rinong Pamg and Bryan
This is an achievement of strong will and we are proud and happy for him. He beat the reigning Olympic champion Mack Horton of Australia by clocking a time of 3.54.77. More so that he is a Sarawak-born athlete. This shows that we are never short of talents if scouted well. Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Assistant Youth and Sports Minister
Nickson Lomas in diving and Buda Anchah in bodybuilding.
“They all made Sarawak proud. To all Sarawak athletes, put your mind to what you do and the victory stage is yours. The state is ever interested and happy for you all,” he concluded.
Welsom, 21, started off as a product of Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association development programme.
He became the first Malaysian swimmer to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games under the ‘A’ category ( by merit) in the 400m freestyle.
The event was eventually won by Mack Horton in 3:41.55.
Last Friday marked the second time that Welson had beaten Horton. The first time was in 2017 at the Mare Nostrum Tour in Monte Carlo, Monaco when he established the national record of 3: 49.48.