RIDICULOUS RULING!
Coach unhappy Malaysians will only be allowed to test pool a day before event
NATIONAL coach Chris Martin finds it hard to believe that swimmers can only test the Philippines Sea Games venue a day before the event begins next month.
The American, who has produced Olympic champions in the past, said yesterday he has never come across something like this in his 30-year experience.
“We were informed recently that we can only test the pool a day before the swimming events begin and that is something very new to me.
“Usually we get to test the pool a week before or at least a couple of days if it's a smaller competition.
“This is the case for every other country except the Philippines. In fact, we only get two hours to test the pool.
“I'm guessing it's a move that gives the host nation an advantage but this is something we accept in the name of friendship,” said Martin, who started coaching the national elite squad in April.
Despite the disadvantage, Martin remains optimistic of the Malaysian swimming team’s chances at the biennial Games.
The former England national coach admitted that the national squad this year are much younger and far less experienced than the one from two years ago in Kuala Lumpur.
Having said that, Martin still believes that Malaysia can defend the three gold medals won through Welson Sim (men's 200m and 400m freestyle) and Phee Jinq En (women's 100m breaststroke) at the 2017 KL Sea Games. Malaysia also won two gold though Kevin Yeap and Heidi Gan in the 10km open water swimming.
Martin feels that some of the younger swimmers have got the potential to come back with medals from Manila.
“Welson is looking good in the events that he is competing in and Phee Jinq En is someone who has got a great attitude.
“We have not had many competitions to compete in because most of them take place during the summer, but that is something we had to overcome.
“The kids have been working really hard and we have been mapping the training week by week, month by month and they all want to do well because the Sea Games is the premier tournament for this year and 2020.
“A great swimming coach once said, ‘It's hard to make predictions and that's why we have competitions,’”.
The national swimming squad will leave for the Philippines on Dec 1, where they will be joined by Australia-based Welson and US-based Jinq En.