The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) has announced a roster of just 7 swimmers for the 2014 Asian Games, which is the country’s major multi-sport focus of 2014. Those 7 swimmers will be in Category A – in other words, funded by the Olympic Council of Malaysia – but 6 others from the country’s Commonwealth Games team didn’t make the cut.
“They did not swim anywhere near their personal best times, so we cannot consider them for the Asiad,” said ASUM secretary Edwin Chong in an article in Malaysia’s The Star Online.
Those chosen were:
- Kevin Yeap (M)
- Lim Ching Hwang (M)
- Welson Sim (M)
- Vernon Lee (M)
- Alywn Tan (reserve) (M)
- Khoo Cai Lin (W)
- Chui Lai Kwan (W)
That roster will include the four swimmers who made the final in the 800 free relay at the Commonwealth Games, and twice broke the National Record.
The women’s team will include 2013 SEA Games champion in the 800 free Khoo Cai Lin, though she’s unlikely to medal at the Asiad, where swimming runs from September 21st-26th.
The list of swimmers not on this team is arguably more impressive than the list of swimmers who made the cut. Among those left out is double SEA Games gold meadlist Christina Loh, who was a 1:10.5 and 2:32.5 in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes last year; and 2013 SEA Games 400 free champion Daniel Bego (who didn’t swim at the Commonwealth Games either).
By comparison, this roster will be much smaller than the 12 that Malaysia sent to the 2010 Asian Games, and Malaysia is sending more divers (9) than swimmers, even while admitting that they have no expectation of a medal.