KUALA LUMPUR: The national swimming team setup is set to take on a fresh look, with new appointments set to be announced by month-end.
Malaysia Swimming Federation (MAS) honorary secretary Andy Low confirmed that the national body had selected a head coach and technical director for the national programme.
Both positions are new and over 20 people applied for them when the openings were advertised on the World Aquatics' website late last year.
"We have already selected them and are in the process of finalising the documentation," said Andy when contacted today.
"I can't reveal their names yet until everything is settled. We hope to be able to make an announcement earliest mid-month or if not, by the end of the month.
"This year our goal for both swimming and diving is to continue improving in all areas and have our athletes better their personal bests."
Andy confirmed that former national coach Chris Martin was not offered a contract renewal by either the National Sports Council (NSC) nor MAS when his contract ran out last month.
Martin, a well-respected figure in the sport, was appointed coach in April 2019 and much of his tenure was impacted by Covid-19 restrictions.
"Coach Zhang Hongbo (of China), with the assistance of a local coach, is currently handling the national squad training programme," said Andy.
While the new head coach's role will be more focused on the national elite squad, the technical director will be tasked with developing the sport in general in Malaysia.
Malaysian swimming has fallen far behind in recent years when compared with its traditional Southeast Asian rivals, such as Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.
The national squad won a solitary gold, three silvers and four bronze to place sixth overall at the Phnom Penh Sea Games last year.
MAS had appointed former national divers Bryan Nickson Lomas and Khairul Safwan Mansur as technical director and high performance manager for their diving programme in September.
The duo are executing a new 2024-2028 blueprint for the sport, which covers development at all levels.