KUCHING: A total of eight athletes under the National Sports Council's (NSC) Podium Programme have secured their tickets to next year's Thailand Sea Games after achieving some impressive performances at the Sarawak Malaysia Games (Sukma).
Leading the list is swimmer Andrew Goh who was named the Sportsman of the Games.
Andrew booked his spot in the Sea Games squad after breaking national records in the men's 50 metre breaststroke (27.40s) and 100m breaststroke (1:01.39s), which have qualified him under category 'A' (fully funded).
Compared to results from last year's Phnom Penh Sea Games, Andrew's times were faster than those clocked by 50m breaststroke gold medallist Felix Iberle (Indonesia) of 27.7s.
Andrew is keen to make an impact at the Sea Games.
"I will be focusing on the Sea Games after this," said Andrew, who is currently studying in the United States.
"I want to go even faster and boost my chances of winning a medal at the Sea Games."
Five track and field athletes also secured their Sea Games places - Umar Osman (800m), Nur Afrina Batrisyia Mohamad Rizal (100m), Jonah Chang Rigan (shot put) as well as 20,000m walkers Khor Jing Hong and Sriven Tan.
Umar broke the 32-year-old Sukma games record after clocking 1:51.19s in the 800m event which was also faster than last year's gold medal winning time (1:52.91s) at the Sea Games achieved by Cambodia's Chhun Bunthorn.
Afrina broke the Sukma games record with a 11.64s clocking which was also faster than the bronze medal winning time (11.75s) achieved by Vietnam's Tran Thị Nhi Yen last year.
Jonah broke the Sukma games record after clearing 17.66m which was also superior to the 17.39m which won Vietnam's Phan Thanh Binh silver at the Sea Games.
Jing Hong (1:34:38s) and Sriven (1:38:25s) were also faster than the gold medal winning time (1:40:42s) achieved by Indonesia's Hendro Yap last year.
Weightlifters Hafizuddin Roslin (men's under-84kg) and Qistina Qharisya Suffia Mohd Muzan (women's under-45kg) broke national records at Sukma after clearing 322kg and 144kg.
Both bettered the Sea Games bronze medal winning scores in their respective categories from last year.