FINSWIMMING, a relatively new sport in Penang, made a significant impact with the launch of the first Penang Age Group Championships 2024 at the Setia SPICE Aquatic Centre recently.
State Youth, Sports and Health Committee chairman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen, who officiated the opening ceremony of the championships, said the meet served as an excellent platform to raise awareness and encourage participation in finswimming.
“Recently, the Penang State Sports Council Management Committee officially recognised and endorsed the Penang Finswimming Association under the Penang State Sports Council.
“The Penang State Sports Council is always committed to the development of sports in the community, especially new sports,” said Gooi during a press conference at the Setia SPICE Aquatic Centre on April 6.
Also present were Harry Chai Heng Hua, director of the Penang State Sports Council; Thor Al-Wayne, president of the Penang Finswimming Association and also the secretary of the Malaysian Finswimming Association; and Low Chai Fang, the organising chairman of the first Penang State Finswimming Championship.
Gooi said although this sport was introduced in Penang in 2021, it has long been featured at the international level such as the Southeast Asia Games (SEA Games).
“At the last SEA Games in Cambodia, Malaysia won a bronze medal in finswimming, thanks to a participant from Penang.
“It is possible that today’s finswimming athletes are swimmers who may have represented the state or country and decided to transition to finswimming due to its use of aids.
“With the formal recognition of this sport, I hope more finswimming sports development programmes can be implemented in Penang, enabling us to unearth and nurture talent,” said Gooi.
Chew Vi Min, 19, relatively new to the sport, clinched a bronze medal for Malaysia in the 50m men’s bi fins event at the SEA Games. It was the sole medal won by the Malaysian finswimming team.
It is learnt that the Penang Finswimming Association intends to utilise the inaugural state age group championships as a platform for identifying athletes to represent the state for the upcoming national championship in Melaka, slated in June. This could potentially lead to their selection for the World Cup Championship scheduled for September.
Story by Nur Syakirah Mohd Basri
Pix by Alissala Thian