S’wak govt grants Olympic swimmer Welson Sim RM91,500 for training

April 30, 2019,

Abdul Karim (second right) presents an incentive to Sim (second left). Also seen are Assistant Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Snowdan Lawan (left) and Sarawak State Sports Council director director Dr Ong Kong Swee.

KUCHING: The Sarawak government has granted Olympic and national swimmer Welson Sim RM91,500 for his training expenses in Melbourne, Australia over the past four months since January, this year.

The 21-year-old Sarawakian swimmer from Jalan Foochow, here, who is currently undergoing intensive training in Melbourne, is aiming to participate for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“The state government will not let our athletes be left on the ledge, that’s why we have to come in,” said Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who was accompanied by Sim when met by reporters at the lobby of State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Complex, Petra Jaya here today.

In noting that the Sarawak government is also assisting a few local athletes, Abdul Karim reassured Sim that he can always approach the Sarawak government if he faces any difficulties in his endeavours.

Sim, when interviewed by reporters, said that he was grateful to the incentive and support received and looked forward to participate in the upcoming major competitions namely the world championship in July and Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the end of year.

“I am very grateful for the money granted by the state government as the cost incurred for training in Australia is very high due to the currency exchange and I have to pay for my own expenses all this while,” added Sim.

Sim said he is now training with Mack Horton – an Olympic champion in 400 metres freestyle during the last Olympics in Rio de Janeiro 2016 – in Australia and he hoped that he could qualify for the Olympics next year.

During the recently concluded Malaysia Open Swimming Championship 2019 in Bukit Jalil, Sim broke the record in 100 metres freestyle with a national record of 49.54 seconds and another three gold medals in 200 metres freestyle (1:47.48 seconds, meet record), 400 freestyle (3:50.32 seconds, meet record) and 1500 metres freestyle besides two bronze medals.

Sim is currently the national record holder for 200 metres freestyle, 400 metres freestyle and 800 metres freestyle.

He was also once voted as the Olympian of the Year 2017 by Malaysian Olympic Council and Best Sportsman of the 2017 SEA Games.