Malaysian Para Swimming Association identify backups for Jamery

Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin
14/01/2023 06:53 PM

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 14 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Para Swimming Association have identified several young para swimmers to be trained as backup for three-time Paralympian Jamery Siga.

Association president Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin said this was based on the performances of the young swimmers who competed in the Asian Youth Para Games (AYPG) and the 11th ASEAN Para Games (APG) in Solo, Indonesia last year.

“We have backup swimmers… they have shown their quality last year… I am sure we have a replacement for Jamery Siga.

“I believe that based on their performance since last year, they will be able to shoulder the challenges ahead for the next five years,” he told reporters after the association’s first annual general meeting (AGM) here today.

Jamery has competed in three Paralympics - in 2012 (London), 2016 (Rio de Janeiro) and 2020 (Tokyo).

The 37-year-old Jamery also won gold medals in three editions of the APG - in Myanmar (2014), Singapore (2015) and Kuala Lumpur (2017).

Megat D Shahriman, who is also president of the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM), urged national para swimmers to cultivate a competitive nature in their quest to be selected for the APG in Cambodia in June.

Meanwhile, at the association’s AGM, Alwiyah Talib was elected vice-president and Nur Jamilah Yong Chia Chia as secretary-general.

The association’s registration was approved by the Sports Commissioner (PJS) on Nov 3 last year and it has seven affiliates, namely Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Sarawak.

Megat D Shahriman said the formation of the association was in line with the instructions of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), with each country having to establish its own national association.

-- BERNAMA