'Don't sideline home-grown swimmers', says critic
The national body, Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) has revealed that it is on the lookout for swimmers of Malaysian heritage overseas.
MAS deputy president Marilyn Chua said recently they had identified potential candidates in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The National Sports Council (NSC) has backed the move, saying it aligns with practices already seen in Southeast Asia. NSC director-general Jefri Ngadirin said countries like the Philippines had adopted similar approaches during the 2019 Sea Games.
Pekan said: "This is actually a good effort. But it's not like we don't have talent. If we work hard enough, we shouldn't need to look abroad.
"But if there are suitable candidates, they can add value to the national team."
Pekan said a larger physique, like long limbs and height, greatly aids swimming, but he believes Malaysia has capable athletes and shouldn't rely too much on foreign swimmers.
He said the ultimate goal is still the development of Malaysian swimmers.
"Heritage swimmers can strengthen the team, but they shouldn't overshadow our own talent.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
Four Malaysian girls reach Asian Junior Squash U-19 quarter-finals
KUALA LUMPUR: Four Malaysians booked their spots in the girls' Under-19 quarter-finals of the Asian Junior Championships in South Korea on Wednesday. Fifth seed Anrie Goh edged India's Unnati Tripathi 8-11, 11-7, 6-11, 11-9, 11-8 to reach the last eight, where she will face third seed Ena Kwong of Hong Kong on Thursday at the Gimcheon Squash Stadium. Compatriot Doyce Lee cruised past Japan's Akira Nakajima 11-5, 11-3, 11-9 to set up a clash with top seed Anahat Singh of India. Najwa Zara also advanced after a hard-fought 11-3, 14-12, 8-11, 11-8 win over Hong Kong's Au Ling Yu. She will face compatriot Whitney Isabelle in an all-Malaysian quarter-final. Whitney earned her place with a commanding 11-9, 11-2, 11-6 victory over Singapore's Au Yeong Wai Iynn. In the boys' Under-19 event, second seed Low Wa Sern defeated compatriot Kreethi Pillay Muniswaran 11-4, 11-8, 11-7 to reach the quarter-finals, where he will face fifth seed Lee Jonghyeok of South Korea. In the boys' Under-17 category, top seed M. Nickhileswar advanced with a dominant 11-3, 11-5, 11-3 win over Singapore's Rehaan Singh. He will meet India's fifth seed Subhash Choudhary in the quarters. Second seed Aqil Mirza Naim Khairil Fariz also progressed after beating compatriot Ivan Chang 11-8, 11-7, 11-0. He next faces Shiven Agarwal of India. Meanwhile, Erwin Kros Christopher swept past Hong Kong's Law Cyrus Pak Ho 11-4, 11-3, 11-9 to set up a showdown with third seed Aryaveer Dewan of India.
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
JDT targets global football glory under Tunku Mahkota Ismail's vision
JOHOR Darul Ta'zim (JDT) is determined to make its mark on the global football stage, with ambitions to excel in the AFC Champions League (ACL) Elite and FIFA Club World Cup. The club's vision aligns with the directive of its owner, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, who has called for JDT to maximize its potential and proudly represent Malaysia internationally. Luis Garcia, JDT's chief executive officer, emphasized that the Regent of Johor's guidance serves as the driving force behind the club's pursuit of excellence. 'His Royal Highness Tunku Mahkota Ismail has commanded that we elevate our performance and proudly fly the Johor and Malaysian flags higher on the international stage,' Garcia stated in a club release. Since 2019, JDT has been Malaysia's sole representative in the ACL Elite, contributing significantly to the country's AFC ranking points. This success has opened doors for more local clubs to compete at the Asian level. 'To keep progressing, we must aim higher, ensuring more Malaysian clubs qualify for continental competitions,' Garcia added. With the FIFA Club World Cup expanding to include more Asian teams, JDT sees an opportunity to secure a spot through its strong Asian club ranking. 'Our goal is to consistently advance in the ACL Elite, improving our standing and positioning Malaysia on the world stage,' Garcia explained. However, he acknowledged the challenges ahead, noting the high competitiveness of Asian football. 'The standard is very high, and maintaining focus is crucial for success. Our new signings for the 2025-26 season reflect this ambition, and JDT's achievements will benefit Malaysian football as a whole.'
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Winter Sports See Surge in Popularity
OVER 600 athletes from seven countries gathered for the prestigious Skate Malaysia competition at Sunway Pyramid from 25th to 29th June 2025. Due to overwhelming interest in ice-skating as a competitive sport, Skate Malaysia extended from a 3-day competition to a 5-day competition with 1,700 programmes for individual, pair, and team events. Young and seasoned athletes from 20-ice rinks competed for medallist titles. The line-up featured skaters from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, the Philippines, Singapore, and the USA. Participants were evaluated on their knowledge and execution of manoeuvres, dance choreography, musical interpretation, and more; depending on the programme criteria. Malaysian ice rinks took the top two spots; Sunway Pyramid Ice defended the 1st place title, followed by Blue Ice Skating Rink @ KL East Mall in second. Sub Zero Sukhumvit from Thailand placed third. Oasis Centre Arena and BX Rink from Indonesia, ranked in fourth and fifth place respectively. Top 5 Best Performances included: Cassius Leong, Sunway Pyramid Ice (Malaysia) Chanice Low Xin Yu, Blue Ice Skating Rink, KL East Mall (Malaysia) Elizabeth Kim Niang Huai, Blue Ice Skating Rink, KL East Mall (Malaysia) Jenelle Sia Ee Xuenn, Sunway Pyramid Ice (Malaysia) Maneejan Wilairat, Sub-Zero Ice Skate Club Mega Bangna (Thailand)
