LABUAN: A record-breaking 200 young swimmers from 27 primary and preschools in Labuan are taking part in the Labuan Blue Dolphin Swimming Club’s Super Novice 2 competition, making it the largest U-12 event ever held in the federal territory.
Held at the Labuan Golf Club Swimming Pool, the competition reflects the overwhelming response and growing interest in the sport among children in Labuan while serving as a platform to scout and nurture future swimming talents.
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The one-day competition, endorsed by the Labuan Education Department, features swimmers aged 12 and below competing in 172 events across the U-7, U-8, U-9, U-10, U-11 and U-12 categories.
The events include 25-metre freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, kicking and underwater diving, with participation also extended to para swimmers.
Eight from the Labuan Blue Dolphin Swimming Club who represented Labuan at the Malaysian Schools Sports Council (MSSM) Swimming C’ships, provided young participants with the opportunity to compete alongside accomplished athletes and be inspired to pursue competitive swimming.
Blue Dolphin Club said the competition aims to provide novice swimmers with valuable competitive exposure while identifying and nurturing potential talents capable of representing Labuan at State and national levels in the future.
To ensure fair competition, those who have previously finished among the top three in individual events at the Federal Territory of Labuan Schools Sports Council (MSSWPL) or All Stars competitions are not eligible to compete in those respective events.
All participants will receive certificates of participation, swim caps and recycled bags, while medals will be awarded to the top three finishers in each event. Forty lucky draw prizes are also being offered.
The competition is free as part of the club’s commitment to ensuring equal access to sports opportunities regardless of participants’ financial background.
It has also been recognised under the Pentaksiran Aktiviti Jasmani, Sukan dan Kokurikulum (PAJSK) framework, enabling participating students to gain co-curricular merit points.
Senior Assistant Director of the Student Development Sector at the Labuan Education Department, Mohd Fadzli Sheikh Abdul Rahim officiated the competition.
