1st Malaysia Open Water Swimming Championships 2019

Open water swimmers are invited to compete in the 1st Malaysia Open Water Swimming Championships 2019 as follows :

Date : 21 April, 2019 (Sunday)
Venue : Putrajaya Lake
Distance :  5km
Age Group : 14-15 years, 16-17 years, 18-19 years and Open category
Closing Date : 10 April, 2019
Entry Fee : RM180/swimmer

The invitation letter, Competition Rules, Registration & Entry Forms can be downloaded here.

Good Luck!

29th SEA Games Kuala Lumpur 2017 - Open Water Results

We congratulate Team Malaysia for securing 2 gold in the men (Kevin Yeap) and women (Heidi Gan) open water swimming in the 29th SEA Games Kuala Lumpur held on 18 August 2017.

Also a commendable achievement to our KL swimmer Wong Jun Bin for a 6th placing with an improved timing on his second open water outing.

The Star : Our swimmers rule

TALK about going out with a bang!

Kevin Yeap made sure of a perfect swan song when he led from start to finish to win the men’s open water 10km race at the Putrajaya Lake in front of the Water Sports Complex yesterday.

And to think that Kevin, who turned 28 on Aug 4, was considering retiring after failing to qualify for the Rio Olympics last year.

Kevin, who switched to open water six years ago, pulled away in the fourth lap of the six-lap race to clock 2’03:18 for Malaysia’s fifth gold of the Games.

Thailand’s Peerapat Lertsatha­pornsuk (2’05:41) took silver and Indonesia’s Aflah Fadlah Prawira (2’08:40) the bronze.

The day certainly belonged to Kevin, who only managed a bronze when the event was last held at the Jakarta Games in 2011.

By winning the gold medal yesterday, Kevin has created history by becoming the first Malaysian to win in two different disciplines in swimming at the SEA Games.

Kevin, of Perak, had won the 400m freestyle gold at Jakarta 2011.

“I’m really happy. I definitely swam a lot better than when I finished third in the Asian Open Water Championships (in May),” said Kevin.

“I told my coach that I would go out hard. I knew that if my competitors tried to follow me, they would be more tired than me.

“But it was still a tough and tiring race. I could feel my competitors right behind me until the fourth lap. I didn’t dare to look back.

“I’m really thankful to be given the chance to swim at the KL Games after thinking of retiring last year.

“Coach Paul (Birmingham) told me that if I wanted to retire, I should go out in a blaze of glory.

“I’m looking forward to the next phase of my life, maybe as a junior coach. First, I’m going to take a short holiday,” added Kevin with a grin.

Malaysian other swimmer – 18-year-old Wong Jun Bin – finished a creditable sixth in 2’12:26.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2017/08/19/our-swimmers-rule/#HGUf07mm0VAfOkoG.99

The NST : M'sia clinches gold in men's, women's 10km open water swimming; Yeap creates history

By AJITPAL SINGH - August 18, 2017 @ 11:35am

KUALA LUMPUR: As expected, Malaysia clinched the Sea Games (KL2017) men's and women's 10km open water swimming gold medals through Kevin Yeap and Heidi Gan at Putrajaya Lake on Friday.

Kevin also created history as the first Malaysian to win gold medals in two different disciplines in swimming at the biennial games.

The 28-year-old won the 400m freestyle event at the 2011 Indonesia Sea Games.

After crossing the finish line after six laps, he raised his fist in the air and later declared that he is retiring from all swimming events.

"I am so happy to deliver the gold. I had wanted to retire after failing to qualify for the Rio Olympics in pool swimming, but national coach Paul Birmingham persuaded me to stay on and try open water races.

"Birmingham told me to retire with glory first and I did that today," said Kevin.

Heidi overcame illness and injuries to win the women's title.

"I am actually on antibiotics right now... I have been sick for the past one week.

"I will swim the 4x200m freestyle event before I take a break and decide on whether to retire," said the Perth-based Heidi.

The Star : Jun Bin unfazed about switch to open water

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

KUALA LUMPUR: It will be a different ball game for 17-year-old Wong Jun Bin when he competes in open water swimming at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games on Aug 18.

As a swimmer, Jun Bin is used to the cooler temperatures in the pool. But in open water swimming, he is bracing himself for warmer conditions.

The Putrajaya Lake will be the venue for the men and women’s 10km open water race, where Malaysia will be contending for gold.

The lake’s temperature can soar to above 30°C.

Jun Bin has been selected to join Kevin Yeap in the men’s competition.

Heidi Gan, who won the 10km race at the Asian Open Water Swimming Championships at the same venue last month, is bidding to retain the gold she won when the sport was last contested – at the Indonesia SEA Games in 2011.

Jun Bin, in his first competitive swim, finished seventh in the 10km race at the Asian meet and is looking forward to his SEA Games debut.

“I missed the swimming trials because of my school’s examinations earlier, but the coach (Paul Birmingham) asked if I wanted to try for open water swimming.

“I took part in the Asian championships last month. I didn’t have any experience swimming in such a long-distance race, so my aim was just to complete it.

“Being placed in the top eight was a bonus really. Open water race is totally different from swimming in a pool.

“Other than focusing on technique and working hard, you have to be aware of the direction you are swimming and of the competitors around you.

“I struggled a little with a loss sense of direction initially because the water wasn’t as clear as in the pool and I ended swimming sideways. You have to look in front. I hope to improve with more practice.

“There were some swimmers who did not finish the race in the Asian meet. As a newcomer, I have no expectations,” said Jun Bin, who completed his secondary studies at the Singapore Sports School recently.

Before the SEA Games, the Kuala Lumpur-born teenager will be competing in the 400m freestyle at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas from July 18-23.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2017/06/14/jun-bin-unfazed-about-switch-to-open-water/#XHkaLYVZS0CPdH52.99

Results of 7th Asian Open Water Swimming Championships 2017

The Star : Mighty Heidi

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

Super feat: Heidi Gan and Kevin Yeap showing off the gold and bronze medals they won in the 10km event of the Asian Open Water Swimming Championships in Putrajaya yesterday. Heidi also bagged the bronze in the 5km event on Friday. — IBRAHIM MOHTAR/The Star

PUTRAJAYA: Heidi Gan won a sprint finish to claim a historic gold for Malaysia in the women’s 10km at the Asian Open Water Swimming Championships.

The 28-year-old overtook Xeniya Romanchuk of Kazakhstan after the final loop at the Putrajaya Lake to become the first Malaysian to win a gold in the championships.

There were also cheers for Malaysia as former national swimmer Kevin Yeap rose to the occasion to clinch a bronze in the men’s 10km.

Heidi, who is based in Australia’s Perth, completed the race in 2’17:00.773 under sweltering conditions.

Romanchuk took the silver in 2’21:04.210 while Benjaporn Sriphanomthom secure the bronze for Thailand in 2’22:50.736.

Heidi, a bronze medallist in the 5km event on Friday, was delighted with her perseverance.

“It was tough going but good for me in the end. My coach (Matt Magee) developed a strategy to keep pace with the Japanese.

“They were the favourites but the weather got to them. I also had to change my tactics a bit to win the gold.

“I’m happy to see that I can finish strongly under these conditions. The last time I swam in this region was in 2011 (when she won both the 5km and 10km golds at the Indonesia SEA Games),” said Heidi, a two-time Olympian and a corporate lawyer.

Only the 10km event will be contested at the Aug 19-30 Kuala Lumpur SEA Games and Heidi is looking forward to make a golden return.

“It’s good to have the championships on this course. It’s a good practice for me. Only the Thais and Singaporeans raced in these championships but I am pretty confident of my chances,” said Heidi.

Kevin was thrilled to bits to land his first Open swimming medal.

“I managed to overtake Welson (Sim) in the sixth and final loop. My strategy was to pace myself and it worked.

“It was also not so hot towards the end and that helped me tremendously,” said Kevin, the 2011 SEA Games gold medallist in the 400m freestyle.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2017/05/22/mighty-heidi-malaysian-powers-her-way-to-historic-gold-in-asian-open-water-championships/#GTH6RUygDAxrqcxm.99

The Star : Heidi splashes to historic medal at Asian Open Water meet

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

PUTRAJAYA: Heidi Gan warmed up for the KL SEA Games by making a splash for Malaysia at the Asian Open Water Swimming Cham­pionships in Putrajaya Lake.

Heidi, who is based in Perth, became the first Malaysian to win an Asian championships medal after finishing third in the women’s 5km event yesterday.

The 28-year-old completed the race, held under calm but hot conditions, in 1’05:03.586.

It was a 1-2 for Japan, thanks to Yumi Kida (1’03:40.600) and Yukimi Noriyama (1’03:47.313).

Although the 5km distance will not be contested at the KL SEA Games in August, Heidi was delighted to emerge as the best-placed swimmer from the region.

Chantal Liew of Singapore was the next best finisher from South-East Asia in sixth spot, followed by Thailand’s Neelanuch in 11th.

Singapore’s Chin Khar Yi was 12th and Thailand’s second representative Pattarakan Sriyong 13th.

Malaysia’s second entry – Angela Chieng – was disqualified from the race for technical infringement.

“I came back to swim here as it’s the same course for the SEA Games. It’s a good sign for the SEA Games and it’s good to get a medal.

“The field is not big but still competitive. The winner from Japan was ranked 12th in the 10km event at the Rio Olympics last year.

“It was tough out there and really hot. The last time I swam in these kind of conditions was at the 2011 SEA Games in Indonesia ... so, it was a big challenge,” said Heidi, who works in a corporate law firm.

Heidi, a two-time Olympian and double gold medallist in open water swimming at the 2011 SEA Games, will have a day’s rest before returning for the 10km race tomorrow.

National swimmer Welson Sim finished a creditable fifth in the men’s 5km event in 1’02:46.880.

Japan also made it a 1-2 finish in the men’s race through Yasunari Hirai (1’00:28.953) and Yohsuke Miyamoto (1’00:38.260).

Yasunari finished eighth in the 10km event in the Rio Olympics.

RESULTS

Men’s 5km: 1. Yasunari Hirai (Jpn) 1’00:28.953, 2. Yohsuke Miyamoto (Jpn) 1’00:38.260, 3. Vitaliy Khudykov (Kaz) 1’00:49.353, 4. Taiki Nonaka (Jpn) 1’01:47.066, 5. Welson Sim (Mas) 1’02:46.880.

Women’s 5km: 1. Yumi Kida (Jpn) 1’03:40.600, 2. Yukimi Noriyama (Jpn) 1’03:47.313, 2. Heidi Gan (Mas) 1’05:03.586, 4. Xeniya Romanchuk (Kaz) 1’08:22.800, 5. Lok Hoi Man (Hkg) 1’09:52.980.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2017/05/20/heidi-splashes-to-historic-medal-at-asian-open-water-meet/#qj9cYXRsQrwLbLuz.99

Results of 5km Open Water Swimming 2017

Congratulations to the winners of the 7th Asian Open Water Swimming Championships 2017, the 5km swim in Putrajaya Lake was completed on the morning of 19 May 2017.

* photos courtesy of Milo Nestle, the official sponsor of the event

Welson Sim, national & Olympic swimmer tested himself in the open water event and came 5th with an impressive time of 1:02.46 against other seasoned competitors from Japan and Kazakhstan 

The Star : Swimmer Kevin to use Asian meet to check on rivals’ progress

BY TAN MING WAI

PETALING JAYA: Kevin Yeap plans to use this weekend’s Asian Open Water Swimming Championships in Putrajaya to check on his potential SEA Games rivals’ progress.

The championships were last held in Hong Kong in 2013 and will be held at the Putrajaya Lake, which is also the venue for this year’s KL SEA Games (Aug 19-30).

A total of 53 swimmers from 10 countries will compete in the two events – 5km race today and the main 10km race on Sunday.

“I have no idea who I’ll be facing at the KL Games in three months’ time, so this meet gives me the chance to find out more about them as a few of them will be in action,” said the 27-year-old Kevin, who won a bronze in the 10km open water race at the 2011 Palembang SEA Games.

“But that’s not the main agenda. I’m more interested to see how much I have progressed since the World Cup (in Abu Dhabi) in March.”

Kevin failed to impress in the Abu Dhabi World Cup, which was his first assignment of the year. He finished 59th in the 68-man-field.

Kevin will be joined by Welson Sim, Vernon Lim, Wong Jun Bin and Rupert Tan at Putrajaya in the men’s event this weekend.

Japan’s Yasunari Hirai and Kazakhstan’s Vitaliy Khudyakov, who both competed in last year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympics, are the favourites.

Malaysia’s Heidi Gan and Angela Chieng will compete in the women’s division. Heidi will compete in both the 5km and 10km races. She can expect stiff challenges from Japan’s Yumi Kida and Yuki­mi Moriyama and Thai­land’s Benjaporn Sripanomthorn.


Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/sport/swimming/2017/05/19/swimmer-kevin-to-use-asian-meet-to-check-on-rivals-progress/#e2tcemk63VZkfQYA.99

The 7th Asian Open Water Swimming Championships 2017 begins 19 May 2017

The 7th Asian Open Water Swimming Championships 2017 begins tomorrow 19 May 2017, with the 5km swim at 7 am.

We wish the team Malaysia all the best. MAS team comprise of Heidi Gan, Vernon Lee, Welson Sim, Wong Jun Bin, Rupert Tan, Angela Chieng

 

*photo credit to Mr KL Yan