SSC pledges assistance for international events
KUCHING: The Sarawak Sports Corporation (SSC) is always ready to collaborate with and assist sports associations in organising international sports events, said its CEO Morshidi Fredrick.
“Organising an international sporting event is never an easy task by any stretch of immagination. It requires passion, dedication and sacrifice.
“We would like to congratulate Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (ASAS) for successfully organising the 7th Speedo Malaysia International Masters Swimming Championships,” he said at the closing of the event at Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre here on Saturday.
The one-day championships, sponsored by Speedo Malaysia, was organised by ASAS with support from SSC. It attracted 106 swimmers aged 20 to 79 representing eight teams from Hong Kong, India, west Malaysia and Sarawak.
Swam Buaya were crowned overall champions of the meet. The combined team of Swam (Kuala Lumpur) and Buaya (Sarawak) captured 75 gold,30 silver and 19 bronze medals to amass 1,053 points and top the eight-team competition organised by Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (ASAS).
It was the second time that Swam Buaya won the overall champions title after winning it in 2017 at the same pool.
Swam Buaya earned more honours when Andras Fekete and Nataliya Simak won the overall best male and overall best female swimmer awards respectively.
Sibu Masters Swimming Club finished second with 708.50 points while Hong Kong Sword Fish Club ended in third spot with 380 points.
In fourth to seventh positions were Penang Swimming Club (312 points), Team Dugong (302), New Wave Swimming Club (244), Unattached Team (123.50) and Inti Aquatic Club (12).
Meanwhile, ASAS president Dato Wee Hong Seng thanked Swimming Malaysia Federation (MAS) for entrusting ASAS to host the event for the second time since 2017.
He also spoke of the challenges facing organisers and competitors arising from the pandemic and prevailing economic conditions.
“Hosting this meet has not been easily as international swimmers are facing some constraints in travelling adjustment.
“Hence we see a drastic drop in our participants this year about only one third of what we had in 2017,” he added.
Wee went on to thank swimmers and Speedo as well as SSC, MNS and MAS for their support.
Also present were SSC sports development division manager Ahmad Rodzli Hashim, Speedo Malaysia operations general manager Sujutha Balakrishnan, organising chairperson Alice Kwon Jan Lin and Kuching Amateur Swimming Association president Kelvin Yeo Kheng Soon.