National swim coach Eric Landa
(R), team manager John Ting (L)
and team physiotherapist Yvette
Kortekaas (2nd L) with the nine
swimmers that will represent
Brunei at the 37th Southeast Asian
Age Group Swimming
Championships. Picture: BT/
Syarif Rasani

Two hundred and twenty eight participants from seven countries will be flying to Brunei for the 37th Southeast Asian Age Group (SEA AG) Swimming Championships from June 7-9.

The seven countries participating are Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia.

National aquatics head coach Eric Landa who trains seven of the nine swimmers representing the Sultanate said "So far we know what events (the Brunei swimmers) will be swimming in, but they may choose to do some extras."

"I know some of the swimmers are good enough to get medals though we don't know what we will be up against until we receive all the times from the other countries tomorrow," said the coach.

"From that we will be able to see how we match up against them," he added.

"It has taken me two years to get us to where we are now and our squad is four times bigger compared to just the two swimmers we sent last year.

"My swimmers go through 20 hours a week of training, which consists of 11 water sessions and six land sessions.

"We do this 50 weeks within a year because it's the only way we can catch up with everyone else," added Landa.

Christian Nikles who won joint bronze in last year's 50m freestyle 13-14 year old event in Indonesia said "I will be competing in the same events as last year, which are the 50m and 100m freestyle."

"My personal best for the 50m is 25.28 and it's my favourite stroke.

"... I think it's going to be a long shot because these guys are at SEA Games standard and go real fast," he said.

Muhamad Isa Ahmad who also competed in last year's edition told The Brunei Times, "I will be doing the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke for the competition."

"If I remember correctly, last year I came in fifth in the 100m breast stroke so my aim for this competition is to better my time and try to (win) a medal," said Muhamad Isa.

The Brunei Amateur Swimming Association's aim for the competition is for the Bruneians to try and better their personal best times while aiming for a podium finish.

Muhamad Isa, Nikles, Nur Hamizah Ahmad and Tiara Anwar are also lined up to compete in the World Championships in Barcelona in July.

Courtesy from Brunei Times