Asas aim to restore glory days in Sarawak swimming
KUCHING: The new off ice bearers of Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (Asas), have pledged to revive the glory days of swimming in the state.
With new president Dato Wee Hong Seng at the helm and a mix of new faces and experienced old hands from all Asas affiliates the association looks set to achieve that target.
“As the president of Asas, it is my priority to consolidate what we have at the moment and enhance it to develop a strong base at the grassroots level for the state to tap into our talents,” Wee said in a press statement.
He said much needed to be done over the next two years and Asas would like to streamline the training programmes with all seven affiliates especially the four centres Kuching Amateur Swimming Association ( Kasa) 2010, Kota Samarahan Amateur Swimming Association ( Kotas), Mir i Amateur Swimming Association ( Masa) and Sibu Amateur Swimming Association (Sasa) which have been identified as elite centres.
“We will look into detail that resources of al location like coaches and financial assistance are fairly and evenly distributed to all affiliates which also need to be result- orientated so that our swimming standard can be raised constantly,” he said.
However, Wee admitted that Asas’ immediate task would be preparing the state team of 10 boys and 10 girls for Sukma XVII in Perlis which is 44 days away.
“It is of paramount importance that our swimmers are both physically and mentally prepared to mount a serious challenge for Sukma 2014,” he added.
Wee said swimming is an ever challenging and evolving sport as there are constant improvement of techniques, training methods just to push for a new frontier and raising the bar of swimming standard.
“Sarawak are blessed with some prolific swimmers over the years and some of them have gone on to represent Malaysia at the Olympic Games, World Championship, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and SEA Games.
“We still boast of four swimmers in the national team -- Daniel Bego, Vernon Lee, Welson Sim and Erika Kong -- of which I believe Daniel Bego is still the number one swimmer in the country.”
Wee said Sarawak had always been the hotbed to unearth talents for swimming and diving for Malaysia.
“Looking further ahead with Sarawak hosting Sukma in 2016, it is time for us to prove that we are the powerhouse of swimming just like in 1990 when Sarawak last hosted Sukma and Tania Bugo achieved the feat of winning 13 gold medals which can never be repeated.”
At state level, Wee is looking forward to working very closely with the Sarawak State Sports Council, Social and Development Ministry as wel l as various government agencies so that a bigger al location of funds
As the president of Asas, it is my priority to consolidate what we have at the moment and enhance it to develop a strong base at the grassroots level for the state to tap into our talents. Dato Wee Hong Seng
can be facilitated to meet the demand of the ever increasing budget requirement for the state swimmers.
He is the third Asas president after Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr Wong Soon Kai and Larry Sng.