KUALA LUMPUR: Being in the same environment as world-class swimmers is why Dublin, Ireland, has been chosen as a base for swimmers Khiew Hoe Yean and Tan Rouxin ahead of the Paris Games.
Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) swimming technical director Megan Oesting believes it will be good for the duo to observe swimmers preparing for the Olympics at a high level there.
Hoe Yean and Rouxin will leave for Dublin next week and train at the Irish capital until before the Paris Olympics opening ceremony on July 26.
"Ireland will have their full team there, it will be a great experience for Hoe Yean and Rouxin to watch swimmers at that level.
"How they train, prepare for practice, their mental state, and focus. We think being in the same environment will be good modelling for them," said 51-year-old Oesting.
MAS also feels that the Dublin facilities are among some of the best in the world and can help Olympic debutants Hoe Yean and Rouxin adjust before the Paris action.
"They have excellent training facilities and it is very close to Paris, Hoe Yean and Rouxin will be taken care of well there.
"Ireland will also be a good place for the duo to adjust to a new time zone, get acclimated, and prepare mentally for the Olympics," said Oesting, a gold medallist at the 1991 Pan American Games.
Hoe Yean will compete in the men's 400m freestyle and Rouxin in the women's 100m breaststroke at the Olympics.