Impressive haul for Kuching’s Swin Art at SAG Swimming Championships, 11 trainees qualify for national invitational

KUCHING (Jan 9): Swim Art swimmers delivered an impressive showing at the 52nd Sarawak Age Group (SAG) Swimming Championships, collecting 85 medals and securing Malaysia Invitational Age Group Championships (MIAG) qualification for 11 swimmers.

Despite being a relatively small club, Swim Art’s steady progress has been built on consistent and structured training under head coach Gary Lau, with an emphasis on gradual improvement rather than high-volume workloads.

“What matters most to us is steady progress,” said Lau.

“These results didn’t come from having big facilities or resources, but from the swimmers showing up, working hard, and improving a little at a time.”

The approach paid dividends at the championships, with Swim Art swimmers claiming both Best Girl and Best Boy awards in their respective age groups.

In the Girls 19–21 category, Christy Wong Yau Xuan was named Best Girl after winning six gold medals and one silver.

She is a Sukma XXI swimmer and Borneo Games 2025 bronze medallist in the 50m backstroke.

Meanwhile, Russell Liaw Yi Han was crowned Best Boy in the Boys 12–13 category, sweeping nine gold medals and meeting MIAG qualifying times in multiple events, including freestyle, breaststroke, backstroke, and individual medley.

Strong performances were also recorded across other age groups.

Distance swimmer Bryston Lee Khai Cheng starred in the Boys 14–15 category, capturing gold medals in the 1,500m and 400m freestyle, silver in the 800m freestyle, and bronze in the 200m freestyle, while also meeting MIAG qualifying standards.

Teammate Bong Yi Xiang added depth in the same category, winning bronze in the 400m and 800m freestyle and securing a MIAG qualifying time.

In the girls’ events, Leora Eli Conus concluded her campaign with one gold, two silver, and two bronze medals, while also achieving MIAG qualifying marks in her sprint events.

In the Boys 16–18 category, Ayden Maximilian Lim Wei — who recently represented Malaysia at the Asean School Games — earned silver in the 1,500m freestyle and bronze medals in the 400m freestyle, 400m individual medley, and 100m freestyle, results that confirmed his MIAG qualification.

His teammate Cayden Mineve Chin secured bronze medals in backstroke and butterfly events and qualified in backstroke, while Max Chew Yu Xiang picked up medals in breaststroke, butterfly, and individual medley, also earning qualification.

Other MIAG qualifiers from Swim Art are Ayden Wong Yau Shuin (50m and 100m backstroke), Roman Aryan Raphael (200m breaststroke, 200m individual medley), Airi Chew Yi Sze (200m breaststroke), and Tay Shu Fun (100m butterfly).

The MIAG will be held at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil on Feb 5-8.