Olympian fails to qualify for SEA Games on merit

PETALING JAYA: Two-time Olympian Welson Sim will not be swimming in the SEA Games for the first time since 2013 after failing to qualify on merit for the Cambodia edition in May.

Welson was the notable absentee when the Malaysia Swimming Federation (MSF) named the final list yesterday for the SEA Games swimming competition in Phnom Penh from May 5-17.

Another medal winner from the previous SEA Games in Hanoi Job Tan also missed out.

The Sarawakian took bronze in the 200m breaststroke in Hanoi but was beaten by fast rising youngster Andrew Goh and Hii Puong Wei.

Despite this, the swimming squad head to Phnom Penh with plenty of optimism to better the previous haul of one gold, four silvers and two bronzes from Hanoi last year.

Khiew Hoe Yean, who delivered the solitary gold medal in Hanoi when he won the 200m freestyle, will lead the challenge in the men’s competition along with Andrew, Arvin Shaun Singh, Bryan Leong, Puong Wei, Lim Yin Chuen, Low Zheng Yong, Mohd Dhuha Zulkifry, Jayden Tan, Terrence Ng and Chris Chew.

Two-time Olympian breaststroker Phee Jinq En will spearhead the women’s team comprising Tan Rou Xin, Chong Xin Lin, Ho Jia Yi, Kelly Teo, Lim Shun Qi, Loo Yie Bing and Ong Yong Qi.

Hoe Yean will be a gold contender in the 200m backstroke as well as the 200m and 400m freestyle distances while Andrew has a shot at winning in the 50m and 100m if he produces the same form that broke a national record in the Malaysian Open in Bukit Jalil recently.

The 19-year-old clocked 28.10s to break the national mark of 28.59s held by former national swimmer Wong Fu Kang since 2016.

Andrew not only qualified for his debut SEA Games but will also make a first appearance in the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka in July.

Also in with a shot is London-based swimmer Bryan Leong, who made heads turn by breaking Daniel Bego’s 13-year-old 100m butterfly national record in the KL Sukma last year.

“We have a lot of new faces in the swimming team this time and unfortunately, we could not name Welson as he failed to qualify on merit.

“For swimming, the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) had specified that those who are over 23 years of age must qualify on merit and that is to beat the third placing (bronze) time from the Hanoi SEA Games last year.

“The swimmer must also qualify in an individual event and he needs to be ranked in the top two in the event.

“It’s the reason why another of our SEA Games medal winner Job Tan is also not going,” said Mae Chen.

The 25-year-old Welson is a three-time SEA Games gold medallist but he failed to repeat that feat in the individual events in Hanoi.

He, however, made up for it by winning a silver in the men’s 4x200m freestyle team relay event along with Yin Chuen, Hoe Yean and Arvin.

Welson, who has taken part in every SEA Games since 2013, left his full-time training base in Bukit Jalil last year to train on his own and has been training at D Swim Academy since then.