Singapore splash to set the tone for SEA Games push
Former SEA Games champion Nurul Huda Abdullah, now Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) honorary assistant secretary and swimming committee co-chair, described the Singapore meet as a crucial part of final preparations.
The national swimmers head into the championships fresh from competing at the World University Games (WUG) in Berlin, which wraps up just days before the Singapore event.
"The SEA Games remain our top priority, but the World Championships are an important stepping stone," said Nurul Huda.
"This back-to-back competition window offers a valuable learning curve.
"It's a chance to see if our swimmers can maintain top-level performances in quick succession - a skill that will be vital as we enter the final stretch before December."
At the Universiade, Khiew Hoe Yean shattered his own national record in the 400m freestyle, clocking 3:47.38s to eclipse the 3:48.36 mark he set last year.
"Hoe Yean's time is encouraging — not only is it the fastest in Southeast Asia this year, it's the quickest ever recorded by a swimmer from the region," she added.
While Nurul Huda is pleased with recent signs of progress, she stressed that there's still work to be done.
"We've seen promising results, but there's no room for complacency. If we want success at the SEA Games, we must remain disciplined and focused right through to December."
The squad: Khiew Hoe Yean (men's 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle), Andrew Goh (50m and 100m breaststroke), Bryan Leong (50m, 100m butterfly), Tan Khai Xin (200m and 400m individual medley) and Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal (4x 200m freestyle relay and 4x100 medley relay) and Phee Jinq En (women's 50m and 100m breaststroke).
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