Bros out to make waves

Splish splash: Waterpolo team captain Khiew Tze Yean (front, from left) with younger brother and national swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean (third from left) are among the UCSI University students bound for the Thailand SEA Games next week.

PETALING JAYA: It will be a reunion of sorts for Khiew siblings Hoe Yean and Tze Yean at the SEA Games but in different pools.

Younger brother Hoe Yean is going for gold in his fourth SEA Games outing in swimming while older brother Tze Yean is hoping to end up on the podium for the first time in water polo.

The 25-year-old Sze Yean will captain the men’s water polo team, and is hopeful of ending Malaysia’s medal drought at the SEA Games stage.

Tze Yean first competed in water polo at the Manila SEA Games but he switched to fin swimming when the sport made its debut at the biennial meet in Vietnam in 2022.

Malaysia’s last SEA Games water polo medal came in 2017 when the team won bronze.

“Every Games is a fresh slate,” said Tze Yean.

“I’ve always hoped to contribute a medal in a multi-Games. Matching or surpassing our 2017 finish would mean a great deal to us and to Malaysia.

“We have trained hard and prepared well, so we are ready to give it our all.”

Undeniably, it is younger brother Hoe Yean who is set to grab the limelight.

Hoe Yean, 23, is the 2024 Paris Olympian and also the defending champion in the 200m freestyle.

Hoe Yean is Malaysia’s strongest prospect for gold in the men’s 200m and 400m freestyle events.

The duo are also part of the pool of 10 UCSI University athletes heading to Thailand for the SEA Games in various sports.

Joining the Khiew brothers in the pool are fellow swimmers Ananda Lim, Chong Xin Lin as well as water polo players Teo Zun Jet and Julius Abbas Ferdinand Janting.

National road cyclist Yeong Zhen Yi, a bronze medallist at the Asian Championships in Nilai in February, is also bound for the SEA Games along with triathlete Teo Sze Hui softball player Lee Ye Tong.