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sunday Star, 27 november 2016

sporting lifestyle

Progress
in motion

More Malaysians are becoming


aware of the importance of being
physically active. Flip through the
pages to learn about creating a
more sports-positive society.

2 Sporting Lifestyle

SUNDAY STAR, 27 NOVEMBER 2016

Fight or flight

Sporting it right

MIXED martial arts (MMA) is becoming


increasingly popular in Malaysia, especially
in the last four years. Participants in MMA
classes, academies and gyms come from
various backgrounds although serious
enthusiasts who take part in competitions
often have one or multiple types of martial
arts experience under their belt.
The basics of MMA begin with Muay Thai
for stand-up/base training, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
(BJJ) for ground training and a combination
of beginner MMA and CrossFit for strength
training, says Muhammad Ayub
Muhammad Jamal, founder of Potosan
Corner Pro Shop.
It is also important to note that consistent
training is important in MMA. Continuous
practice is crucial to not only train skills and
technique but also build experience in
different fighting styles and finding one that
suits you best.
Equipment and gear are essential when it
comes to MMA. Basic MMA gear include a
pair of gloves, hand wraps, a pair of shin
pads, mouth guard, head gear, ankle guard
and a gym bag to store your basics.
Having the right gear for MMA training
and sparring is important to ensure both
external and internal safety of the body.
Equipment such as the head gear
prevents injury around the head area due to
impact. The shin guard protects your shin
from combat impact by your opponent or
due to a fall, says Ayub.
As for apparel, male MMA fighters
require a tank top, T-shirt or compression
shirt and fighting shorts, Muay Thai shorts
or compression leggings for training. As for
women, a sports top and leggings would
suffice.
A gi is used during BJJ gi training. It looks
similar to a traditional Japanese and judo
attire.
For non-gi training, a BJJ practitioner
would wear a rash guard or long-sleeved
compression attire along with a mouth

SPORTS injuries are common among


athletes and sports enthusiasts. They are
often unavoidable, ranging from mild
sprains to broken bones and torn
ligaments.
Here are some parts of the body where
common injuries may occur:

WITH a growing number of


fitness and sports enthusiasts all
over the country, many organisers
see the potential in establishing
sporting events in Malaysia. Here
are a few events to keep an eye
out for in the coming months.

guard, says Ayub.


Recently, Malaysia was host to a number
of professional international MMA
championships, including ONE
Championship and the Malaysian Invasion
Mixed Martial Arts (MIMMA), which is the
largest amateur MMA tournament in Asia.
Other tournaments include local
championships such as OneSilat
Championship, Ultimate Beatdown (UB) in
Johor, Jesselton Fight League (JFL) in Sabah
and the F-3 Championship.
Muay Thai is another type of popular
martial arts that is gaining popularity with
championships such as D1 Fighting
Championship, Elite Fight Night Champions
League (EFN) and the Kuda Merah KL Muay
Thai Challenge.
Potosan Corner is the official equipment
sponsor for MIMMA 4 and 5 and the official
fighting gear provider for the ONESILAT
World Championship.
We are also sponsors for several potential
upcoming fighters who are participating in
the ONE Championship.
For Muay Thai, we are sponsoring fighters
who are now in training to represent
Malaysia in the 2017 Southeast Asian (SEA)
Games in Kuala Lumpur. We are sponsoring
a number of international black belt BJJ
fighters, says Ayub.
As part of its fourth anniversary
celebration, Potosan Corner Pro Shop will be
having sales at its store in Plaza Damas,
Kuala Lumpur, beginning tomorrow till the
second week of December.

n For more information, visit

www.potosancorner.com.my or the
Potosan Corner Pro Shop Facebook page.

l Head

Head injuries are common during


high-contact sports such as football, rugby
and hockey. Concussions occur when the
brain moves rapidly back and forth due
to a violent head collision.
This may cause the person to lose
consciousness for a brief period of time.
However, it is possible for a person with
a concussion to be conscious without
exhibiting any form of adverse symptoms.
This applies to cases of serious concussions
as well.

l Shoulders

The shoulders can make precise


movements within multiple planes due
to the many ligaments and tendons
around the joints. However, shoulders
are susceptible to dislocation and stress
injuries because of their shallow joint
structure.
A common shoulder injury is the tearing
of the rotator cuff muscles or ligaments,
which makes action such as lifting difficult
and painful. A dislocation occurs when
the head of the humerus bone is forcibly
removed from the rotator cuff.

the waistline. Pre-workout stretching,


chiropractic care and keeping a lean frame
are ways in which aches on lower backs
can be avoided.

l Knees

Knee injuries are very common among


athletes and older individuals. These occur
because cartilage and protective material
wear down as people get older or due to
physical stress.
There are two types of sports injuries in
the knee damage of the anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) and the menisci. Both of
these injuries may require surgery if the
damage is severe.
Minor sports injuries can be treated
with the RICE method rest, ice,
compression and elevation. For severe
injuries, athletes should seek immediate
medical attention so that the injury does
not worsen. Speak to your physician or
orthopaedic surgeon on the best treatment
and rehabilitation option for you.
This article is brought to you
by Shah Alam Physiotherapy
Center.

n For more
information,
call 012-699
6922.

l Back

Many sports injuries also occur at


the back, which as a whole can affect
movement and mobility. Upper back
muscles can become sore due to overuse.
Vertebrae injuries are a result of contact
sports with jarring movements of the head
and neck. Oftentimes, lower back injuries
occur in athletes who are heavier around

Handle
sports injuries
with care
to prevent
long-term
damage on
the body.

Upcoming competitions

No retreat, no surrender
Built to physically challenge
participants and bring them out
of their comfort zones, Reeboks
Spartan Race is an annual series
of races that times participants on
their speed when completing an
obstacle course that is complete
with mud, fire, walls and barbed
wire.
There are three types of races
that are labelled Sprint, Super and
Beast. Participants who complete
all three races in a calendar year
will be accepted as a Spartan
TRIFECTA Tribe member.
With the Spartan Sprint course
being the shortest and Spartan
Beast the longest, the distances of
these races range from more than
5km to 20km. The number of
obstacles range from 20 to 30.
Junior races that are offered to
children under the age of 14 are
1.5km in distance. Next years
Spartan Sprint event will be
happening on March 12 with
prices starting from RM129,
whereas junior races start from
RM78. The venue of the race is yet
to be confirmed.
For more information, visit
www.spartanrace.my.

Battle cry
The Warriors Challenge will be
held on Dec 10 in Kuala Lumpur.
The event will consist of five
courses the Obstacle Race, Hike
To The Peak, Rock Climbing At
The Top, Cross Country 2.4KM

and The Finisher.


The Obstacle Race course
challenges its participants to travel
a span of more than two
kilometres and overcome 10
obstacles.
The Hike To The Peak challenge,
on the other hand, requires
participants to carry out endurance
hiking. The participants will trek
3.5km to reach the peak of Bukit
Besi.
They will then proceed to the
Rock Climbing At The Top
challenge, followed by the Cross
Country 2.4KM course.
Finally, participants will join the
final challenge, The Finisher. In
this event, they will have to choose
to either carry a 20kg sandbag,
20kg bullet vessel or 25kg wood
log.

The aim is to carry the items


over fire and empty tyres on the
way to the finish line.
Interested participants can
register online with a fee of RM100
and those who complete the race
will be awarded a finisher's medal.
For more information, visit
www.warisanad.com/
warriorschallenge.

Cycle through
The annual SP Mountain Bike
Jamboree will be held on Dec 11
at Sungai Petani, Kedah.
The registration date for this
mountain bike rally closes on
Dec 4. On the day of the jamboree,
cyclists will have to be at Taipan
Bazaar, Bandar Puteri Jaya,

by 7.30am before the event begins.


Registration fees start at RM100.
The Bagan Charity Ride 2.0,
hosted by the Lions Club of
Bagan, is a cycling event that is
happening on Feb 19, 2017. The
ride will be a 50km circuit that
starts and ends at the Aroma Hotel
in Butterworth, Penang. The fee
for participants is RM100.
For more information on both
events, visit www.cyclingevents.my.

Smashing
The University of Nottingham
Malaysia Campus will be hosting
this years PROTECH-Nottingham
Badminton Open on Dec 3 and 4.
The tournament will be applying
the knockout system with a

minimum of 16 entries.
The organisers encourage
students from other colleges and
badminton academies to
participate in the tournament
with the aim of providing a
friendly arena for badminton
players of different standards and
backgrounds to interact with one
another.
Registration fees for the singles
competitions for men and women
start at RM35, whereas mens and
mixed doubles start at RM65.
Champions, first runner-ups and
second runner-ups stand a chance
to win prize money and medals.
For more information, visit
www.mbt.my/badmintontournaments/protech-badmintonopen-2016.

SUNDAY STAR, 27 NOVEMBER 2016

4 Sporting Lifestyle

SUNDAY STAR, 27 NOVEMBER 2016

Premium buys at affordable prices


SPORTSDIRECT.COM made its
mark in 1982 in Maidenhead, the
United Kingdom, and has become
one of the most well-known
sports retail outlets in the UK and
Europe with close to 1,000 stores
combined.
Following this success,
SportsDirect.com made its foray
into Asia when it opened its first
outlet in Malaysia five years ago.
Initially, MST Golf Sdn Bhd was
a licensee for SportsDirect.com.
As golf is a niche market in
Malaysia, the company decided to
expand its business to offer gear
and equipment for a variety of
sports.
Soon enough, the opportunity
for a joint venture emerged
bringing about the establishment
of Sports Direct MST Sdn Bhd.
SportsDirect.com has now
grown to 23 retail stores in
rapid succession in Malaysia.
The retail chain is expected to
open its newest outlet in Sunway
Velocity Mall in Cheras next
month and a five-storey
standalone superstore in Bukit
Bintang in February next year.
The latter is set to leave its
mark as Malaysias ultimate
sports shopping destination in
the heart of Kuala Lumpur.
In addition, the company has
moved to a new 120,000sq ft
(11,148.3sq m) warehouse in
Shah Alam.
SportsDirect.coms pride is in
its flagship and founding store
in Subang Jaya as well as retail
stores in The Intermark, Kuala
Lumpur, and IOI City Mall,
Putrajaya, which are three of its
busiest stores within its retail
chain.
We want to show people
that we are very serious about
promoting sports with all the
leading brands and providing
exceptional value as a leading
sports retailer in Malaysia. Even
in a difficult economic climate,
we are really seeing great support
for our stores, says Paul Gibbons,
managing director of
SportsDirect.com Malaysia.

Something for everyone


What makes SportsDirect.com
truly stand out is the sheer size of
its retail outlets and the range of
branded products offered.

SportsDirect.com features a wide range of product categories such as


running and kids wear, which are divided into separate sections, in all
outlets.
SportsDirect.com arranges
different product categorises into
different sections of the store to
meet the varying needs of
consumers, giving them a more
personalised shopping experience.
We aim to cater to everybodys
sporting needs based on scale,
the number of brands, the number
of categories, the number of
stock-keeping units (SKUs) and
whether consumers want an
entry-point-price product or
technically advanced equipment,
says Gibbons.
That is why a typical store
needs to be larger than 12,000sq ft
(1,114.8sq m). We need a big store
so that, for each of the categories
we cater, customers can find a
wide range of products that would
suit them.
Have enough time when
visiting our stores. Most of the
time, customers miss 30% to 40%
of the best deals when they visit
for the first time, he adds.
SportsDirect.com retails a
variety of international sports
brands such as Nike, Adidas, Puma

and Under Armour, which make


up about 80% of the brands sold
at its outlets.
In fact, SportsDirect.com owns
28 international sporting brands,
including Karrimor, Lonsdale,
Slazenger and Dunlop.
This allows the company to cut
its margins as the products are
delivered directly from the
manufacturer to the retail floor
without a third party.
The company also collaborates
with many local brands to
further develop their product
portfolio. One such example is its
collaboration with local
badminton gear brand, Victor.
We are planning to execute a
long-term collaboration with
Victor to advance badminton
here in Malaysia, especially as it
is so supportive of the national
team, says Gibbons.
As part of its retail culture,
SportsDirect.com reassures its
customers of great value and
exceptional quality and
encourages them not to rush on a
purchase but to take their time

and make rational purchases.


Compare prices and brands.
You will have lots to choose from
but come in and compare the
prices between our store and our
competitors, says Gibbons.
What keeps SportsDirect.com
on the edge is its online retail
platform as part of its partnership
with Lazada.
With the UK making up
about 20% of the companys
total sales through e-commerce,
SportsDirect.com Malaysia is only
just beginning to scratch the
surface.
However, Gibbons believes that
as time goes by, the companys
online sales presence in Malaysia
will continue to grow as it already
has about 4,000 SKUs available for
online purchase.
As it is the companys policy to
ensure parity, all its products are
sold at the same price in the retail
stores and online.
However, SportsDirect.com also
has flash sales to further attract
online shoppers. Gibbons says
that the online shopping platform
will continue to complement
brick-and-mortar retail.
We are selling more web-based
products to people who do not
have access to our stores and we
will continue to analyse these
trends to further upgrade our
service, says Gibbons.

More than just retail

SportsDirect.com's managing director Paul Gibbons (front, third from left) with the staff of the Subang Jaya
flagship outlet.

Being in sports retail, it is


important to go beyond just
selling sports equipment. believes
that it has a responsibility to the
community in encouraging more
people to be active and get
involved in sports, especially
among children.
We have talked with the
Government on numerous
occasions about encouraging
children to get involved in sports.
We currently promote and
sponsor children and school
sports events under our football

brand Sondico and encourage


children to play sports through
roadshows.
Our sporty kid promotion is
ongoing, which offers tremendous
value with kids getting a further
20% discount when they shop with
us, says Gibbons.
As for grown-ups, there will be
a year-end festive sale happening
soon so customers can purchase
premium products at discounted
prices.
This is in addition to the
companys running Deal of the
week promotion and themed
promotions by sports category
offered every week throughout
the year.
SportsDirect.com is a company
that puts customer service on
the frontline. It believes that
prioritising good sales service
and after-sales services will ensure
customers leave the store satisfied.
We are putting significant
investment into training our staff.
The experience of shopping at
SportsDirect.com should energise
you. We have sound return policies
and all our products are genuine
authentic brands with valid
warranties, explains Gibbons.
As for the future,
SportsDirect.com aims to
become a stronger contender
in the sports retail environment
in Malaysia.
According to Gibbons, the
company intends to use the
Malaysian model to spearhead
future business development
across South-East Asia, with
Malaysia being its headquarters.
The appetite for authentic
sports gear in this region is there
and we feel that this business
model works well with our
portfolio of brands and value price
points, especially in a tropical
environment where we do not
have so much seasonal exposure
like in the UK, he concludes.

n For more information, visit


www.sportsdirect.com.my.

SUNDAY STAR, 27 NOVEMBER 2016

6 Sporting Lifestyle

SUNDAY STAR, 27 NOVEMBER 2016

A mountain to climb
By IAN JEROME LEONG
BE it during the Olympics, Commonwealth
Games or Southeast Asian Games,
Malaysian newspapers have always
dedicated numerous pages to cover the
various events and disciplines.
In the days preceding the World Cup or
UEFA Euro finals, souvenir magazines,
event memorabilia and team jerseys fly off
the shelves and, more often than not, are
sold out before the kick-off.
These examples plus the outpouring of
support for our jaguh sukan negara during
the recent Olympics are testaments to
Malaysias love affair with sports.
Unfortunately, if we were to step back
and analyse the countrys sporting scene as
a whole, it would seem that Malaysians are
only at the top of their game when it comes

to keeping up to date with the latest


sporting developments and becoming a
master at either offering moral support or
criticising national athletes.
With the reputation of being the most
obese country in Asia, it is obvious that
Malaysians are not as active as they
should be.
The majority of the public are leading
highly sedentary lifestyles and there is a lot
of work to be done before the country can
shake off this embarrassing fat tag.

A contentious goal
Among the biggest factors that impede a
more active lifestyle here is the degree of
importance corporations, schools and
parents put on sports.
This problem is likely due to the business

and educational culture in Malaysia that


focuses on productivity.
Similar to many other Asian countries,
the term quantity of life is the norm
compared to countries across Europe that
believe in a balanced quality of life.
While it is true that all businesses
operate to generate income and
school-going children must always
pursue academic success, employees
and students are rarely encouraged to
partake in sports or outdoor activities
as regularly as they should.
There are still many companies in
Malaysia that do not organise outdoor
family days, have internal sport clubs, or
have a company gym or any dedicated
amenities for staff who wish to walk or
cycle to work.
At the same time, it is not surprising to
hear schools deciding to replace physical
education periods with additional classes
in selected subjects, especially for those
sitting for public examinations.
As this has been the culture in the
country for generations, coupled with the
age-old notion that sports does not put food
on the table, parents too are more than
happy to see their children studying rather
than taking to the outdoors.

Passing the baton


Sadly, misplaced of importance has a
rippling effect. Kids who have been
deprived of taking part in sporting
activities are likely to grow up without
having the desire to lead a sporting lifestyle
or, for that matter, pick up a sport.
Working out in the gym or playing a
sport with colleagues after work may then
seem awkward and these negative feelings
are only exacerbated if the corporate
environment does not support a healthy
work-life balance.
The cycle then continues as these adults
are likely to shield their offspring from
having any interest in sports. Consequently,
the talent pool for new athletes shrinks
significantly.
Looking at the countrys national
sportsmen and sportswomen, it is clear
there are no immediate successors to
sporting icons such as Datuk Lee Chong
Wei and Datuk Nicol Ann David.
There is a massive gap in skill,
experience and world-ranking points
between them and the national No.2s and
Malaysians hardly hear of any junior
consistently grabbing major honours at the
under-21 or under-18 levels.
Irrespective of what Malaysians may
think about the national sports
programmes and the management of each
sporting association, with less and less
children picking up sports, it would seem
that the Olympic gold medal will remain a
dream.

Making a splash
Though operating on a smaller budget
compared to other ministries, the Youth
and Sports Ministry is doing what it can to

introduce and support nationwide sporting


programmes.
FitMalaysia aims to facilitate the
adoption of healthy lifestyles among all
Malaysians, in line with the ministrys
aspirations to make Malaysia a true
sporting nation.
With the understanding that fitness is
not just an end goal but a lifestyle choice,
FitMalaysia is committed to making this
transformation process painless, fast
and fun.
This ongoing programme aims to
eradicate barriers that keep people from
exercising, such as the lack of proper
facilities, and help individuals find likeminded people to exercise and play with.
It is only with such efforts will the public
have an improved overall physical, social
and psychological well-being.
The move will also attract a larger
number among the younger generation to
take up sports and, with a little bit of luck,
a new crop of talented individuals will be
found and groomed to boost the nations
chances in attaining sustainable success in
the global sporting arena.
Another brainchild of Youth and Sports
Minister Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar is
Hari Sukan Negara (HSN) or National
Sports Day.
Recognising the low percentage of people
who lead a sporting lifestyle (roughly 40%
according to the ministry) and to reduce
the number of chronic diseases among
Malaysians, HSN is held annually on the
second Saturday of October.
The other objectives of HSN are to
encourage unity among the public, develop
the nations economy through the sports
industry, increase the knowledge of sport
and its importance within the public, and
honour individuals who are involved in
developing sports at the grassroots level.
Among the sporting events held across
all states during this years edition were
obstacle races, triathlons as well as
grappling and futsal competitions.
The emphasis was to attract a wider
participation among the disabled, families,
youth, women and elderly.
Besides these events and programmes,
regular initiatives by the Kuala Lumpur
City Hall such as KL Car Free Morning are
also good steps in getting the public to
move more and step out of the house.

Aiming at the same target


Fortunately, more people are beginning
to see the importance of sports and
understand the health benefits from
regular exercise.
Though marathons have been organised
for a long time in Malaysia, the emergence
of social media and big-name sponsorships
have given such sporting events a new
lease of life.
In this years Standard Chartered KL
Marathon, more than 3,000 people took
part, eclipsing the previous total in 2014 by
almost 1,000.

> SEE NEXT PAGE

Sporting Lifestyle 7

SUNDAY STAR, 27 NOVEMBER 2016

Making the right choice


ULTIMATELY, regardless of the number of incentives available to play sports, leading a
sporting lifestyle is a personal choice. Sporting Lifestyle spoke to two individuals to
understand the reasons they regularly take part in sports.

Andrew Mervyn Kasimir, copywriter, Asia


editor for the Quidditch Post and co-founder
of the Damansara Dementors
What inspired you to start a
muggle quidditch team (a popular
university sport in North America,
Australia and Europe that is based on
a fictional sport in J.K. Rowlings Harry
Potter novels) in Malaysia?
I started playing in Australia and felt the
need to continue playing when I came
back to Malaysia. I wanted to keep
improving as a player and decided to start
my own team.

The response from kids is quite


amazing. They understand the sport
quickly and start to communicate strategy
with each other within minutes.
The highlight has to be the recent Asian
Quidditch Cup I helped organise. It was a
small tournament but it was a great
experience to be a part of. Another
highlight would be all the friends I have
made locally and internationally through
quidditch.
I would love to one day travel around
Malaysia to play quidditch like how I still
travel to Australia for competitions.
Why is it important for people
to take up a sport or lead a
sporting lifestyle?
It is important to lead an active
lifestyle more so because of the
Malaysian diet, which consists
of a lot of
carbohydrates.
Playing sports
frequently
keeps the
mind and
body fresh
and takes
you out of
the homework-home
routine.

How was response like for the


sport and what has been the
highlight for you since starting the
sport?
The response from Malaysians
has been a mixed bag from
those who feel the
need to badmouth the sport
on social media
to those who
simply love
the sport to
bits.

Andrew
Kasimir
sporting long
hair (second
row, second
from left) with
the Damansara
Dementors.

Gathering pace
> FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
In addition to sports such as badminton,
football, basketball, table tennis, swimming
as well as track and field that remain as
favourites among Malaysians, young adults
are embracing new fitness trends that
have arrived on our shores in the
past decade.
Obstacle races such as Spartan and Viper
Challenge are popular among many fitness
buffs and participant numbers have been
gradually rising every year.
The introduction of new challenges in
each edition is able to sustain the interest of
endurance runners, leaving them hungry for
upcoming competitions.
Besides general fitness classes such as
yoga, aerobics, boot camp and TRX training,
gyms are also starting to introduce niche
programmes such as powerlifting and
mixed-martial arts as there is currently a
growing following for these sports in
Malaysia.
Many people do not realise that there is
also a healthy number of alternative sports
that are quietly growing in Malaysia.
Furthermore, some of these teams are
performing well at the international level
such as the Malaysian team that secured
the runner-up position in this years
Dodgeball World Cup, beating the likes of
the United States, Scotland, Northern Ireland,
Egypt and Wales.
Some of the other alternative sports that
are quickly catching on are lacrosse, touch
rugby, flag football, ultimate Frisbee, muggle
quidditch and floorball.

Sprint to the finish


It goes without saying that it is time
for Malaysia to transform from being a
sport-loving nation into a sporting nation.
It is time for the public to not only cheer
on their icons or favourite football teams at
the neighbourhood mamak restaurant but to
actively pursue a sporting lifestyle.

With eight silver and four bronze medals


at previous Olympic Games, individual
world No.1 rankings in badminton and
squash as well as myriad honours in
various sports at the Asean level, Malaysia
is not short of sporting heritage.
These successes as well as the
heart-warming stories of Siti Noor Radiah
Ismail, Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamad Puzi,
Muhammad Ziyad Zolkefli and Abdul Latif
Romly at this years Paralympic Games
should be an inspiration for all Malaysians
to go outdoors and take up a sport.
Sports is not just about looking good and
toning muscles to boost ones aesthetic
appeal. Sport provides individuals with life
lessons such as fair play, respect, self-belief,
teamwork, determination and confidence.
If not for the social aspect of playing
sports with friends and family, individuals
need to pick up a sport at the very least for
its health benefits, which include delaying
or avoiding diseases as well as relieving
emotional and psychological stress.

James Veerapen, professional race car driver


and driving instructor
Many people do not realise the
physicality of being a race car
driver. Describe why it is important for
you to stay in shape.
Racing go-karts and race cars are both
physically demanding in a different sense. In
go-karts, the driving sensation from the
steering wheel is strong and comes
directly from the tyres, making the
steering wheel very heavy.
A race weekend can go up to 80 laps
and you can feel the strain after a few
laps into a race. Therefore, it is
important to have upper body and core
strength as well as muscle endurance
instead of muscle mass.
Without muscle conditioning, you
will only lead in the first few laps. The
more conditioned you are, the easier it
is to focus on the race.
It is not as physical in race cars due to
power steering but you require the
ability to endure heat because of the
amount of fireproof material and little
ventilation in cars.
How do you maintain your
fitness when you are not
racing?
I play futsal at least twice a week. I
also prepare for races using weights
to build on upper body strength.
Why should people pick up a
sport and lead a sporting
lifestyle?
Sport teaches you to accept the
rules, play a game fairly, have
camaraderie, be disciplined and learn
the importance of communication
within a team.
All these aspects will be useful even

in a corporate setting such as dealing with


difficult characters and bringing everyone
to work together. Playing a sport also
demonstrates the kind of person you are
as you react towards a win or loss.

James Veerapen.

8 Sporting Lifestyle
CELINE Ooi Chiew Wei has known
swimming almost all her life.
I learnt to swim at the age
of five and when I was around
seven years old, one of the coaches
approached my mother and asked
if I would like to enter competitive
swimming. I started training then,
which was how my journey in
professional swimming began,
says the 31-year-old full-time
swimming coach.
Ooi began taking part in
national interclub swimming
competitions at 11 years old
and achieved podium finish at
the same age.
She competed in her first
international meet at the 1998
Southeast Asian (SEA) Age Group
Swimming Championships in the
Philippines when she was
13 years old.
She later took part in the 1998
Asia Pacific Age Group Swimming
Championship, Asian School
Swimming Championship in 2001
and Asean School Swimming
Championship 2003.
The peak of her career was
when she broke the 50m
backstroke national record at
the 2003 Malaysian Open in Sabah
when she was just 18 years old.
Although Ooi missed the
qualifying round of the 2001 SEA
Games in Kuala Lumpur, she
continued to pursue swimming
while studying in university and
competed in the Asean University
Games in Hanoi in 2006 and Kuala
Lumpur in 2008.
She also competed in five Sukan
Malaysia events between 1998 and
2006 and won three bronze
medals in total.
It was after that when Ooi
decided to make a shift in her
swimming career and became a
triathlete.
Ooi attributes her interest in
cycling as one of her reasons for
dabbling in triathlons, especially
after she accompanied her
coach to officiate the swimming
discipline of the Ironman triathlon
in Langkawi prior to becoming a
triathlete. The opportunity for
involvement came not long after.
I got into triathlons when
someone approached my
national swim team looking for
swimmers to form a relay team
for the swimming discipline. My
coach slowly prepared me for the
individual event, says Ooi.
Juggling academics and triathlon
training can be a challenge.
According to Ooi, in addition to
ensuring that she maintained her
results in university, she had to

SUNDAY STAR, 27 NOVEMBER 2016

Just keep swimming

Celine Ooi Chiew Wei is passionate about swimming and wants to impart her skills and knowledge to others.
undergo training for three
disciplines that make up a
triathlon swimming, cycling
and running.
Ooi was able to practise
swimming on her own but needed
coaching for the cycling and
running disciplines with her then
coach, Peter Lau.
I would go to his place at
around 8pm almost every night to
train on my cycling. During the
weekends, I would have long
training sessions in Putrajaya that
involved cycling and running.
She managed to qualify for the
SEA Games in Pattaya for the
triathlon and a few other
competitions as well.
She is now a retired triathlete
and works as a swimming coach
for various groups of people.

It is in the water
As a coach, Ooi advocates the
benefits of swimming to the
masses. She believes it is
important for people of any age to
pick up swimming as it is not only
a safe and effective form of
exercise but is also a useful skill to
have.
Ooi says that all parents should
encourage their children to take
up swimming as it may come in
handy as a life-saving skill.
In addition to building a
stronger body and cardiovascular
system, swimming helps children

Speedo offers a variety of swim training gear such as


(clockwise from top left) aqua gloves, Elite Kickboard,
centre snorkle, Biofuse Power Paddle and training fins.

Many think that


swimming, training
and hydrotherapy
only involve getting
into the water
and performing a
few movements.
However, to further
train muscles
and technique,
a wide variety of
gear and equipment
are used.
get out of their mundane routines.
It benefits children by keeping
them away from the excessive use
of electronic devices and, instead,
encouraging them to go out and
play sports. Based on feedback
from other swimmers and myself
as well, swimmers go to school
feeling fresher after a bout of
morning training, says Ooi.
Swimming lessons for kids start
with beginner lessons, followed by
pre-competitive and then
competitive training. Ooi stresses
that parents should be encouraging
if their children want to be serious
in swimming or even consider
making it their career.
In my experience, having
achievement
certificates when you
are applying for
your tertiary
education and
scholarships give
you an additional
advantage, she
says.
Professional
swimmers can also
become lifeguards by
taking a life-saving
course.
As for adults, Ooi says
that it is important for
them to identify their
purpose prior to
picking up
swimming.
If it is for
recreational
and exercise
purposes,
adult
swimmers
only need to
spend about 30

minutes, twice to three times a


week in the pool. Swimming is
known to reduce stress and help
in weight loss.
Adult swimmers who want to
compete in events such as a
triathlon can begin with swim
trainings two to three times a
week and increase frequency as
they progress.
According to Ooi, triathlon
training and preparation do
not have to take much time and no
prior experience is needed.
There is no time limit in a
triathlon, so individuals can take
their time in the water discipline.
We have triathlon athletes who
had no prior experience in
swimming picking up the skill in
half a year. It is an ongoing
process.
Senior citizens and patients with
injuries also enjoy the benefits of
swimming and exercising in the
pool.
Water has a high level of
buoyancy, thus reducing impact on
joints and injuries but at the same
time providing higher movement
resistance that improves muscle
strength and tone.
Ooi occasionally teaches Zen
swimming for adults. The skills
and techniques taught in this
programme reduce stress on the
joints and are easy to pick up.
Our oldest student was above
70 years old and had no prior
swimming experience. At the
end of the programme, she could
do basic swim strokes. We do not
limit age as long as the students
are physically fit, she says.
Hydrotherapy has been
proven to be beneficial to patients
with mild to serious injuries or
neurological disorders.
However, She stresses that
patients should consult their
physician and physiotherapist to
determine a suitable hydrotherapy
for them.
I did it when I was injured
during my time in the national
team. I could not do much
terrestrial exercise so my
physiotherapist designed my
therapy to be aquatic.
Hydrotherapy also helps to
activate every muscle in the
body when balancing body
weight in water, Ooi adds.

Gear up
Many think that swimming,
training and hydrotherapy only
involve getting into the water and
performing a few movements.
However, to further train muscles
and technique, a wide variety of
gear and equipment are used.

As an essential, every swimmer


needs a pair of goggles that fits
well, suitable swimming attire
and, for girls and women, a
swimming cap.
Beginners use a kickboard and
may need training fins at a higher
level. At the pre-competitive and
competitive stages, we will ask
them to get hand paddles, pull
buoy and a centre snorkel in
addition to their previous
equipment.
Adults training for triathlons use
the same equipment as those in
the competitive stage. Equipment
such as aqua gloves, centre
snorkel and aqua belts are suitable
gear for adults, senior citizens and
hydrotherapy patients.
Aqua belts offer the swimmer
extra buoyancy that aids running
exercises in the pool. On the other
hand, aqua gloves work similarly
to hand paddles by increasing
resistance for strength training.
The centre snorkel helps to
improve lung expansion and
cardiovascular capacity.
Being the coach ambassador for
Speedo Malaysia, Ooi has some of
her favourite swimming gear from
the brand that she feels are of
excellent quality and the most
suitable for her training regime.
My favourite product is the
hand paddles, which create
resistance to train strength. This
is important for technique training
in competitive swimming. I also
like the snorkel, especially when
used for drills in the pool, she
says.
As a whole, swimming is more
than just having a good time in
the pool. Not only is it a great way
to get children and adults to stay
active, it is also suitable for people
who are older or recovering from
injuries.
It is also important to have the
right equipment for the right
training or lesson.
This will not only help improve
technique but also build stronger
muscles and cardiovascular
system.
As for Ooi, she will continue to
coach and educate people about
the benefits of swimming. She
hopes more people will pick up
swimming and more talents will
be inducted into the national
swimming team.
As we continue to improve
swimming as a sport, I would like
to see our Malaysian swim team in
the top 16 in the Olympics one
day, she says.

n For more information, visit


www.speedo.com or the Speedo
Malaysia Facebook page.

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