Kota Kinabalu: Emmanuel Loh Yung Ming and Loo Yie Bing were crowned overall winners in the boys’ and girls’ categories respectively in the 56th Sabah Invitational Age Group Swimming Championships held at the aquatic centre in Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex from June 14-16.
Loh from Sea Dragon Swimming Club (SDSC) had captured the boys’ group two (14-15) title with eight golds after setting six meet and two State records, while Sandakan SSA Swimming Club’s (SSA) Loo ruled in the girls’ group one (16-18) category by winning seven golds and one silver with one new State record.
There was a record number of 363 swimmers since the Covid pandemic from seven teams hailing from all over Sabah, Labuan and Kuala Lumpur taking part in the annual event organised by Sabah Aquatic Sports Association (Sasa).
Penampang Preppies Swimming Club (PPSC) topped the medal standing after three days of competition with 48 golds, 59 silvers and 54 bronzes followed by Sea Dragon Swimming Club (SDSC) with 33 golds, 25 silvers, 35 bronzes and PJMS Aquatic Swimming Club (PJMS) with 30 golds, 26 silvers, 18 bronzes.
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Sasa president Daniel Lee was pleased with the 24 new records set during the meet and he reckoned one of the reasons was due to the newly installed and fully functional Automatic Officiating Equipment (AOE).
“We have received positive feedback from participating teams regarding the Omega timing system.
“With a fully functional AOE, it has given the swimmers a great boost, as there were a total of 24 existing records rewritten, and this will also help us in our preparation for the coming Sukma in Kuching,” he said.
He expressed his appreciation to Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ellron Angin and his Ministry, and the Sabah Sports Board for the upgrading.
Daniel congratulated all the teams and swimmers for their achievement and praised the coaches for their patience and hard work to develop the swimmers.
He also thanked Sabah Sports Council for their continued support as well as extending his thanks to all the parents for the sacrifices in allowing their children to take up competitive swimming, and hopes it will motivate other parents to follow suit.
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