File pix of Jayden Tan. - AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star.
PETALING JAYA: It’s hard to keep your head above water when you feel let down and national swimmer Jayden Tan knows that sinking feeling all too well.
On Monday (Oct 6), the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games bronze medallist expressed his disappointment after being placed under Category B for the December SEA Games, meaning he must fund his own trip to Thailand despite his medal-winning effort.
The 21-year-old Jayden, who won bronze in the 400m individual medley and 4x200m freestyle relay in Cambodia, said he was baffled when he found out that his name was surprisingly placed under Category B despite his achievements.
Under Category B, athletes need to get their own funding and will only be reimbursed if they win a silver or gold.
He had expected to be Category A, afterall, he had showed good progress over the last two years.
"I feel that placing me in Category B just means that they had written me off from even winning a medal," lamented Jayden.
"But I've already proven myself in the previous SEA Games. This competition has been my goal for the past two years and I've been looking to win in my pet events.
"And it's not like I'm retired and coming back. I've been actively training the past two years."
The Malaysian Swimming Federation (MAS) had placed him in Category B although Jayden feels he had met the criteria for Category A.
According to the criteria, athletes who achieve a score or time that equals or betters the top three finishers from the previous SEA Games or are ranked in the top three in Southeast Asia based on recent tournament performance, will be placed under Category A.
In the Cambodia Games, Jayden set a new national record of 4:23.24s to win bronze in the 400m individual medley.
In the Malaysian Open in May, he captured the title with a time of 4:26.44s which would have seen him finish third in the Games.
The youngster's time in the home Open was also enough for him to qualify for the World Championships in Singapore in July.
Jayden is now appealing to MAS, Olympic Council of Malaysia and Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh to place him in Category A.
"I'm now trying to appeal to all three parties to place me in Category A. I hope they will take my achievements into consideration and be fair to me," said Jayden.
