Former Perak Swimmers Set Up New Wave Swimming Club

Cindy Ong, Former National swimmer, Speedo Ambassador and currently she is world ranked no 5 for her age group 30-34. 

The recent Speedo Masters Swimming Championship held at the newly opened Tuanku Zara Aquatics Centre last month saw the best team going to New Wave Swimming Club a club set up by former Ipoh swimmers.

New Wave President Faris Salim Davidson said the club was set up five years ago after a group of us participated in the Masters Championship in Penang.

The New Wave founder members (l-r  seated)  Kevin Loh, Faris Davidson, Tuanku Zara, Elizabeth Wong Keat Ping, Ng Weng Kong Standing: Allen Ong, John Wong, Toh Guan Hoe

“After the competition someone said to start a club. The name mentioned was New Wave so we registered with it and started swimming and competing ever since.

Generally there were two reasons to start, to keep fit by training together and to socialize and have breakfast together”

The founding members were Kevin Loh, Faris Davidson, Elizabeth Wong Keat Ping, Ng Weng Kong, Allen Ong, John Wong and Toh Guan Ho.

It must be noted that all the founders were in their forties and were former Perak state swimmers with the exception of Allen Ong who participated in the Olympics and Kevin Loh the SEA Games.

The membership has since ballooned to 100 adult swimmers, has a junior development program, trains 3 times a week and participates in swimming competitions all over the country including open water competitions.  

The 2018 Speedo Masters Championship held in Ipoh involved the participation of 50 foreigners from Singapore, Hong Kong , Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, France, Sri Lanka and China while 200 were from Malaysia. Their ages ranged from 24 to 70 years and above.

The one-day event was jointly organised by New Wave Swimming Club of Kuala Lumpur together with Amateur Swimming Association of Perak (ASAP) and was divided into team and individual categories.

The rules and regulations follow the International Swimming Federation (FINA). Both the male and female participants were divided into 11 age-groups but was allowed to form a team for the relay events.

Tuanku Zara being greeted by Mr Oon of ASAP. Looking on is YB Howard Lee and being greeted by her father Datuk Salim 'Bill' Davidson 

Tuanku Zara, Tony Looi and Tuanku Zara's parents Datuk Salim 'Bill' Davidson and Datin Sharifah Azaliah

Bill Davidson with New Wave Swimmers Cheah Tong Kim, Elizabeth Wong, Faris Davidson, Emma Davidson and Kevin Loh, 

Faris Salim Davidson is the brother of Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara, who graciously took time off to make an appearance during the event.  Tuanku Zara is a keen sportswoman and had represented Perak in swimming during her schooldays.

She was greeted on arrival by Mr Oon of ASAP, YB Howard Lee and her father Datuk Salim ‘Bill’ Davidson.

Faris receives the Challenge Trophy from Mr Oon, Next to him is Ng Weng Kong

Medal haul. Cindy Ong in the Womens 30-34, Steven Chan Mens 70-73 and Trui Knijnenburg Womens 60-63 

Faris described the one day meet as successful. “We finished early, had dinner, handed out prizes and New Wave won the best team so I would say it was successful overall”

The team from Indonesia

The team from New Wave

JAG