KUALA LUMPUR: Dental student Jayden Tan will have to skip the Shanghai leg of the Swimming World Cup from Oct 18-20.
The 20-year-old has been training daily at the National Aquatics Centre in Bukit Jalil, but the opening leg of the series clashes with his exams.
Jayden, however, is aiming to compete in the Singapore leg (Oct 31-Nov 2).
The other short course meets are in Incheon (Oct 24-26) and Hong Kong (Oct 26-27)
"Unfortunately, I can't commit to the first leg in Shanghai, but I will go for the final stop in Singapore. I still train full sessions, so it's a matter of juggling between my training and preparing for my final pre-university exam papers.
"It's the end of the year and training still continues for us, as we are currently on the short course training programme.
"I have my own targets to hopefully break the national records in my events — 200m and 400m individual medley and also 400m freestyle.
"Many top swimmers are swimming as well and it will really be a huge achievement if we can make it past the heats.
Malaysia Swimming Federation will send the qualified swimmers to the 25m pool event in the Shanghai and Singapore legs.
Paris Olympians Khiew Hoe Yean and Tan Rou Xin will also be competing along with Bryan Leong, Arvin Shaun Singh, Lim Yin Chuen, Terence Ng, Low Zheng Yong, Welson Sim, Chan Jie, Dhuha Zulfikry, Hii Puong Wei, Chui Lai Kwan, Chong Xin Lin and Phee Jinq En.
Jayden, who is fresh from winning three gold medals and setting two meet records for Federal Territories in the Malaysia Games in Sarawak in August, said that short course training is beneficial to his overall swimming.
"For me, short course training is an opportunity to work on our turns and underwater strokes.
"Long course training is still the priority as the main competitions like SEA Games and Asian Games are in 50m pool, although it's always short course meets at this time of the year."