A Sikh out to make a big splash
Arvin determined to swim for Malaysia in the SEA Games
PETALING JAYA: One rarely comes across a swimmer of Sikh descent, but Arvin Shaun Singh is determined to go far in the sport.
The 17-year-old, who is based in Australia, wants to swim for the country at the Philippines SEA Games in December next year and also make it to the Olympic stage one day.
Arvin showcased his talent at the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Perak three months ago by splashing to a double for Terengganu in the boys’ 400m and 1,500m freestyle events. He also took home two silvers in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley besides a bronze in the 400m individual medley.
The success in swimming helped Terengganu emerged as the overall champions for Sukma.
His father played hockey for the state while his mother was into athletics.
However, Arvin decided swimming was his calling instead when he was just nine.
“I played a lot of sports when I was much younger. I used to play football and in fact, I was playing five to six sports a week. But eventually I cut down to just swimming,” said Arvin.
“It’s an all-round exercise and my parents also have sporting backgrounds, so they support me wholeheartedly on what I choose,” added Arvin, who went to study in Brisbane three years ago.
“I want to continue swimming competitively as my dream is to swim at the Olympics one day.
“I am still young and I need to really improve my times to be on track.
“If there is a chance to be in the squad for the SEA Games next year, I would jump at it.
“I have represented Kuala
Lumpur before in the MSSM (national schools meet) when I was 12, but never for the country at a meet like the SEA Games,” said Arvin, who intends to focus on the sprint events next year.
“I would like to challenge myself and I think I am up to it. I train a lot of long swim sets in Australia and Terengganu felt I had a good chance to win in the longer distance races at Sukma, so they took me in.”