Malaysia to host first Open Water Swimming C'ships in Putrajaya

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia will be hosting the South East Asian Open Water Swimming Championship (SEAOWSC) for the first time at the Putrajaya Lake from Feb 2 to 4, featuring 400 elite and amateur swimmers from six countries.

The SEAOWSC which is sanctioned by the South East Asian Swimming Federation (SEASF) will see open-water swimmers from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines participating in six different categories.

There are six swimming categories in the championships - 5km, 10km and marathon for men and women plus a mixed 4x1.5km race.

Malaysian Swimming Federation secretary-general Mae Chen said organising the SEAOWSC will offer the country a positive and important development in the open water sport.

"The main objective of organising the SEAOWSC is to develop the sport of open water swimming which has a vast potential in South East Asia as well as unearth talented open water swimmers in the country and the region, ahead of the SEA Games.

"We want the SEAOWSC to become a platform for open water swimmers in the country and the region to test their mettle and showcase their talent in competitions held in the region," he said in a statement issued by the organising committee, here today.

The championships is organised by the Malaysian Swimming Federation and Hybrid Management Sdn Bhd in conjunction with Federal Territories Day which falls on Feb 1.

-- BERNAMA