IT’S swim or sink for Arvin Singh who is set to become Malaysia’s first swimmer of Sikh-descent to compete in the Sea Games.
He will be in the race of his life in the 400m freestyle, alongside Malaysia’s golden hope Welson Sim.
Welson will be gunning to defend his freestyle gold, while Vietnam’s Youth Olympic champ, Nguyen Huy Hoang, is looking for an upset.
Welson, 22, who has been training in Melbourne for six months, will lead the the Malaysian charge when the swimming competition begins today at New Clark City Aquatic Centre.
And compatriot Phee Jinq En, after having travelled across the world from her studies in the United States, will settle for nothing less than a gold.
The retirement of Singapore’s Asian Games silver medallist Roanne Ho has put Jinq En in line for a double in women's breaststroke.
Roanne won back-to-back gold in the 50m breaststroke in Singapore (2015) and Kuala Lumpur (2017) before going to claim a silver in the 50m breaststroke, at the Asian Games in Indonesia.
Jinq En also achieved back-to-back victories in the 100m breaststroke but twice she had to settle for silver behind Roanne despite breaking her national records.
‘It's probably Christie (Chue) from Singapore who will be my main rival.I don't want to be bridesmaid to Singapore again,’ she said.
‘It will be nice to win the 50m as I have not done it before and I'm also looking forward to defending my 100m breaststroke title.’
Jinq En, who holds the national records for the 50m and 100m breaststroke with 31.46s and 1:08.65s, will also be in contention for a medal in the 200m breaststroke.