Malaysia should develop Masters swimming - Cindy Ong

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 -- Masters swimmer Cindy Ong has urged the government to do more to develop Masters swimming, saying it is a big sport which can bring recognition to the country.

Cindy, a former national swimmer, hopes that the government, including the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), will see Masters swimming as a sport that can make Malaysians proud.

"I do definitely want the sports to be heard a little bit more because Masters swimming is very real and big. In fact, Masters swimming is larger than amateur swimming in many ways. It's actually a big market out there.

"But I feel like it is still untapped and Malaysia is really new in this sports. So we did not have any representative in Masters swimming. I was the only one who went to World Masters in 2017," she said after signing a memorandum of understanding with swimwear brand Speedo. 

The 36-year-old swimmer hopes that with government support, more Masters swimmers could be identified and trained to win medals on the world stage.

Ipoh-born Cindy won five gold and two silver medals at the Gwangju World Masters Championships last year. 

This year, she won seven golds and one silver at the Tokyo New Year’s Masters in January. 

"Up to last year, Malaysia had never won any gold medal on the world stage in the sports of swimming, not just amateur but also Masters. I managed to come home with five gold medals. I represented Singapore but I was holding a Malaysia flag; I am a very proud Malaysian," she said. 

Going forward, she aims to set a new Masters world record and will team up with Russian Vladimir Morozov in the World Masters 2022.

Masters swimming is a special class of competitive swimming for swimmers 25 years and older.

Masters swimming is club-based, thus swimmers from different nationalities are free to team up for relay events.

-- BERNAMA