Brunei swimmers win 25 gold in Miri

THE Brunei Amateur Swimming Association (Basa) won 25 gold, 33 silver and 28 bronze medals at last weekend's 14th Miri Age Group Swimming Championship.

Finishing as runners-up to hosts Miri Amateur Swimming Association, it was an encouraging performance from the Sultanate's swimmers who improved on their haul of 22 gold, 13 silver and 12 bronze in last year's competition.

Not only did 21 out of the 27 Basa swimmers win medals during the three-day competition at the Miri Public Swimming Pool, 23 of them improved on their best times according to a Press release issued by Basa yesterday.

In addition, one national age group record was broken and two girls were named best swimmers in their respective groups.

For half of the 27 swimmers, it was their first time competing in an overseas competition.

It is all a cause for celebration, especially since prior to leaving national assistant coach Salleh Hj Tahir said he was not targeting any medals.

Ranging from six years old to 16, the team competed in the backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle, individual medley and relay races.

A total of 145 swimmers from four clubs participated in the meet.

The Sultanate's best swimmer was Sabrina Liew who bagged six gold and two silver medals en route to being named best girl swimmer in Group 2 (13-14).

Nur Farizzah Mohd Shafiee was named best girl swimmer in Group 5 (eight and under) after winning three gold medals and one silver.

She also broke the national age-group record for the 50 metres breaststroke from 53.55 seconds to 52.63s, smashing her own record which she set during the Brunei Swimming Club Inter-Club Swimming Championships last November.

Two Brunei swimmers finished with four gold medals Jocelyn Wong Tshin Tze of Group 3 (11-12) and Florence Sea Wern Lyn of Group 2 (13-14).

The Brunei Times