KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Swimming Federation (MAS) assistant secretary Nurul Huda Abdullah has stressed that the Hangzhou Asian Games (Sept 23-Oct 8) will be the true test for the national swimming squad.
With the exception of two national records broken by Khiew Hoe Yean (800m freestyle, 8:05.11s) and Bryan Leong (100m butterfly, 52.96s), the national swimmers were unimpressive in other events at the World Aquatic Championships in Fukuoka last week.
Nurul said the team are placing a greater emphasis on peaking at the Asiad.
"I am not able to say what had been planned before this (by the previous MAS management) but personally, I'd say that this (world championships) was not the target meet for us," said the Malaysian swimming great yesterday.
"Our last major championships was the Sea Games in Cambodia two months ago and we have the Asian Games coming up in about six weeks.
"The Asian Games is the target meet and the way I see it, is the bigger focus for us.
"This (world championships) was sort of the middle meet for us to assess how we are progressing in terms of training and see how we can further improve.
"Hoe Yean and Bryan have gone on to compete at the ongoing World University Games (Chengdu, China).
"When everyone comes back we will meet with them and see how we can help them improve and what additional support we can give them.
"I have spoken to a few swimmers already but I want to make sure I speak to all of them."
Bryan has continued his strong form at the Universiade where he broke Daniel Bego's 14-year-old national record (24.38s) after clocking 24.35s in the men's 50m butterfly semi-finals yesterday.
It was, however, not enough to make the cut for the final.
Nurul was one of three new faces elected to the MAS committee in June. The two others are fellow Olympian Marilyn Chua (vice-president) and Andy Low (secretary-general).
Nurul and Marilyn head the national body's swimming committee.