Come watch our future `Phelpses'

MEMBERS of the public will have the chance to watch the future swimming stars of Brunei live in action during today's 18th Brunei Age Group Swimming Championships.

An annual event on Brunei Amateur Swimming Association's (Basa) calendar, the association will be organising the three-day event at the National Aquatic Centre of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas with support from the Department of Youth under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Some 200 swimmers from seven clubs are expected to compete in 180 individual and relay races, with teams from Brunei, Labuan, Miri and Kota Kinabalu set to participate.

Last year's tournament in July saw 10 national records broken, with five of them being smashed on the last day.

The Department of Youth and Sports swimming scheme won the competition last year with a total of 54 gold, 38 silver and 24 bronze medals and their assistant coach Salleh Hj Tahir said the team would be out to defend their title.

The Miri Amateur Swimming Association finished second after bagging 28 gold, 27 silver and 32 bronze medals while the Royal Brunei Recreation Club placed third after collecting 13 gold, 13 silver and eight bronze medals.

In addition to winning the tournament, girls from the Department of Youth and Sports swimming scheme created waves by sweeping all five of the awards for best swimmers in their respective age-groups.

Alissa Yong Zhi Sang won the award for the Group 5 Girls (eight years and below) category after winning three gold and one silver medal and Jocelyn Wong Tshin Tze won the award for the Group 4 Girls (9-10 years) category after winning nine gold and one silver.

The Group 3 Girls (11-12 years) category was clinched by Nurhana Yossli who won 11 gold and two bronze medals and the Group 2 Girls (13-14 years) was won by Tiffany Liew Mei Lin who won all seven of her events.

It was no surprise that Maria Grace Koh won the award for Group 1 Girls (15-17 years), the national swimmer winning gold in 14 events and silver in the 400m freestyle.

The Brunei Times