Full Team For Shanghai

SHAREEN Png and Xyanne Lee will lead the nine-woman national synchronised team at the World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai on July 16-31.

The swimmers are using the championships to gauge themselves for November's Sea Games in Indonesia.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary Edwin Chong said they will compete in the solo, duet and team disciplines in Shanghai.

"This is the first time we are sending an entire synchro team to the world meet. It will be the swimmers' first international competition of the year," said Edwin.

"We want to see where our swimmers stand among the world's best, especially with the Sea Games coming."

Synchronised swimming will make a return as a medal sport at the Sea Games after a decade-long absence, where five gold medals will be on offer in Palembang.

"Our swimmers are competing in Shanghai for exposure. Only Shareen and Xyanne have world meet experience with them while others are debutantes.

"We were supposed to send them for the Japan Open in April but cancelled it due to the earthquake and tsunami," added Edwin.

Others in the squad are Lee Yhing Huey, Emanuelle Mah Thil Da, Katrina Ann, Tan May Mei, Mandy Yeap, Yeo Pei Ling and reserve Tasha Jane.

Emanuelle, a two-gold medal winner at last month's Malaysia Games, hopes to make an impact in Shanghai.

"The world meet will be my second overseas event after last year's Japan Open. I will only compete in the team event in Shanghai," she said.

The synchronised competition at the World Championships is not an Olympic qualification event.

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Emanuelle Has Everything In Sync For Big Stage

PETALING JAYA: Penang lass Emanuelle Mah is set for the big time when she represents Malaysia in synchronized swimming at the World Aquatics Championships in Shanghai from July 16-31.

The 16-year-old Emanuelle is among the nine swimmers who got the nod for synchronized swimming at the world meet which will be held from July 17-23.

It will be the first time Malaysia will send a team and the others going are Katrina Ann Hadi, Lee Yhing Huey, Xyanne Lee, Tan May Mei, Mandy Yeap, Yeo Pei Ling and Shareen Png while Tasha Jane will be the reserve.

Emanuelle Mah

Emanuelle said she did not know how to swim initially when she went to check out a recruitment camp back in her home state.

“I went there and found out it was for synchronized swimming, so that’s how I got here today.

“I tasted early success at the Penang Games in 2005 with a gold medal in the routine event,” said Emanuelle, who scored seven As in her PMR exams. A dance lover, Emanuelle rejoined the Bukit Jalil training programme this year, and is looking forward to making her world championships debut.

“This is the first time I am taking part in the world championships. I went for the Japan Open last year but this will be the biggest stage for me.

“I will be out to give my best as I hope to make the squad for the SEA Games in November,” she said.

The synchronized swimming team at Bukit Jalil trains under Chinese coach Long Yan and Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia secretary Edwin Chong said the stint will be a good preparation for the SEA Games in Palembang.

“They were supposed to go for the Japan Open in April but it was cancelled due to the tsunami, so we are sending them to world championships.

“The last time we competed in the team discipline on the international level was at the Doha Asian Games in 2006, so we want to see where we stand especially with synchronized swimming back in the SEA Games programme. We will be fighting for the gold medal in the Games,” said Edwin.

Malaysia made a clean sweep when synchronized swimming was last contested at the 2001 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

There will be five gold medals up for grabs in synchronized swimming at Palembang.