Double mission for swimmers

FT team hope good results in Sukma will convince DBKL to refurbish swimming complex

FEDERAL Territories aquatics teeam have a duty to put up a big splashh at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perrak.

The team harbour hopes that their sterling performance in Sukma will help convince the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to provide funding to refurbish the Bandar Tun Razak Swimming Complex in the city.

The swimming complex is an outdoor pool maintained by DBKL. It was also the venue where Nurul Huda Abdullah splashed to win eight gold medals when Malaysia hosted the SEA Games in 1989, a feat that has never been repeated since.

It has since became the training ground for the FT swimmers and divers but it is badly in need of a roof and a new scoreboard.

Amateur Swimming Union of Kuala Lumpur assistant secretary Nancy Yap said DBKL have allocated money to change the seats and repair the toilets last year.

“The scoreboard has broken down for some time and we are unable to host any national level meets because of this,” said Nancy. “The existing scoreboard has to be changed as it is too old.

“It’s also been our hope for many years that we have a roof over the pool.

“We either conduct training in the morning or late in the evening because of the hot weather. A simple roof will do.

“Swimming is a good all-round sport and we want to entice more kids to take up the sport with better facilities.

“If we get good results in Sukma, it will help our cause,” she added.

FT, spearheaded by talented youngsters Sebastian Soon (pic), Steve Khiew and Keith Lim, should better the previous haul of five golds from the previous Sukma outing in Kuching, Sarawak two years ago.

“Sebastian and Keith are national swimmers holding national records in the 400m individual medley and 50m freestyle respectively.

“We hope the three of them will finish on top this time. Together with diving, we are hopeful of getting nine or 10 golds from aquatics although we do not have the services of Wong Jun Bin.

“Jun Bin, who took part in the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year, could not swim for us as he had to start his studies in the United States this month.

“He would have been a good bet to win in the longer distance freestyle races.”

The FT swimmers have engaged the services of Chinese coach Zhang Hongbao to prepare for the Perak Sukma.

Swimming takes place in Ipoh from Sept 17-21.