SWIMMING: Talent Pool Drying Up Fast

AS familiar faces from the national squad dominated the Malaysia Games swimming competition which concluded on Wednesday, their participation defeated the purpose of identifying new talent.
Except for the emergence of the Federal Territories' Christina Loh, 15, who broke the women's 50m breaststroke Games record, and Kedah's Chi Chiah Kian, 16, who won the men's 50m and 100m butterfly gold, the rest of the events saw national swimmers winning with ease.

Thirteen Games records and one national record by ex-Sea Games gold medallist Chui Lai Kwan were set at the Hang Jebat Sports Complex Aquatic Centre. All of them, except for Christina's feat, were set by national squad members.

Kevin Lim, Foo Jian Beng, Ian James Barr, Melvin Chua, Yap See Tuan, Kevin Yeap, Marellyn Liew and Lai Kwan are seasoned campaigners and one would have expected more records to fall.
And this has raised questions over the quality of the national swimmers on the international stage.

Former Asian Games champion Lim Keng Liat, Malaysia's only swimmer who can be considered truly world class, was blunt in his assessment.

He said the current crop of national swimmers are out of their depth at Asian and Commonwealth Games levels and are even struggling in the Sea Games.

"Malaysia Games swimming is so predictable nowadays.

"Go through the startlist and you will know who is going to win each event but what is of concern is the quality of the current swimmers," said Keng Liat.

"You take away Daniel Bego and there is no one who dominates the Sea Games. Even Daniel will struggle in the Asian and Commonwealth Games this year.

"Thailand are thrashing us at the regional age group level and we are left far behind. I don't even know if the current group can beat me or some of my teammates if we dive into the pool now.

"That's the situation at the moment. The current system should change.

"We can have the best facilities and even hire the best coach in the world but that will not guarantee success.

"The present swimmers are comfortable training at home. They must be based abroad where they can compete throughout the year and against quality swimmers.

"The United States is ideal as they have the right system. Not only do we get systematic training, we have sufficient tournaments and get to compete with world class rivals.

"Until we have everything in place, overseas -- especially the US -- is the best place for national team members to train if they want to become world class," added Keng Liat.