KUALA LUMPUR: The broad shoulders of Welson Sim will carry the hopes of Malaysian swimming at next year’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and Indonesia Asian Games.
He is the nation’s main challenger as the Amateur Union of Malaysia (Asum) have named only three swimmers for both major events.
Apart from Welson, the others selected are woman breaststroke swimmers Phee Jinq En and Erika Kong.
While it will be tough for Welson to get a Commonwealth Games medal, the 20-year-old, a double gold winner at the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August, has the ability to end Malaysia's Asian Games podium drought since 2002.
The Sarawakian’s national records of 1:47.36 and 3:39.48 are inside the 2014 Asian Games bronze medal marks in the 200m freestyle and 400m freestyle.
Based on his 200m timing, he can also make the event’s final at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
Alex Lim Keng Liat was the last Malaysian swimmer to win a medal at the Asian or Commonwealth Games level.
Keng Liat bagged silver after failing to retain his 100m backstroke title in the 2002 Busan edition and that was the last time Malaysia produced an Asian Games medallist in swimming.
He also won a silver (50m backstroke) and a bronze (100m backstroke) in the 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games.
The Gold Coast Commonwealth Games is on April 4-15 while the Indonesia Asian Games is slated for Aug 18-Sept 2.
"I had a good season and from here, I want to build my momentum for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games.
“I am feeling confident. I have the self-belief that I can break national records in 2018,” said Welson.
"For the Commonwealth Games, I will work on the 400m and 1,500m freestyle events.
“It is a move to build my stamina endurance in training. But I will switch my focus to the 200m and 400m freestyle for the Asian Games.”
A medal in the Asian Games will be a huge achievement considering that Welson will be up against world and Olympics champions in his events.
Among the top swimmers in the freestyle are China's Sun Yang, Japan's Kosuke Hagino and South Korea's Park Tae Hwan.
Sun Yang is the reigning world champion for the 200m and 400m freestyle. He also won the 200m freestyle Olympic title in Rio last year.
"I can go faster in the 400m freestyle. I need to clock personal best to have a chance for a medal," Welson added.