Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) 16th Invitational Swimming Championship saw swimmers as young as four and up to 49 taking to the pool.
Held at the Kelana Jaya Municipal Pool on Sept 12, the championship drew 383 participants who competed in 54 events.
Taking part were swimmers from Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Perak, Melaka and Negri Sembilan.
Formerly known as the Pesta Renang MBPJ, the championship was given a new name to mark the city council’s 20th anniversary.
It was officiated by Selangor Islamic religious affairs and cultural innovation committee chairman Dr Mohammad Fahmi Ngah.
In a media statement, MBPJ’s corporate communications unit said the strong turnout showed that the championship, organised with Stingray Swimming Club, was gaining attention beyond Petaling Jaya.
The 54 events covered several swimming disciplines, including backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle.
Competitors were divided into age groups ranging from those aged 37 and above to children aged nine and below.
There were also “kicking categories” for children aged seven to eight and those below six, giving younger participants a chance to build confidence and interest in swimming.
Winners in each category received medals and participation certificates, with prizes awarded to the top three places.
Children from Rumah Ozanam Petaling Jaya also received souvenirs during the championship.
MBPJ said the championship not only gave participants an opportunity to test their abilities in a competitive setting, but also served as a platform to foster discipline, sportsmanship and an active lifestyle among the community.
MBPJ added that the initiative aligned with its aspiration to shape Petaling Jaya into a healthy, active and inclusive city by giving people of all ages opportunities to lead an active lifestyle through sports.
