KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Aquatics (MAS) have yet to identify a candidate to represent Malaysia in women's swimming at the Paris Olympics from July 26 Aug 11.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) earlier this week announced that they were expecting Malaysia to receive universality places, better known as wildcards, in swimming and athletics.
For swimming, the wildcards will be given to one male swimmer and one female swimmer for nations that have not qualified a swimmer on merit.
National swimmer Phee Jinq En, Malaysia's most outstanding female swimmer in the past decade, has been ruled out as wildcards can no longer be awarded to athletes who have competed in two or more editions of the Olympics.
Jinq En had competed for Malaysia at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
MAS secretary-general Andy Low said the national body's swimming committee was monitoring the progress of potential candidates.
"For the women's category, it is still open. We have not yet selected a swimmer," said Andy when contacted today.
"It is not necessary for a swimmer to have competed in the world championships to receive a wildcard.
"The committee has been monitoring the performances of our swimmers and will continue to assess them in upcoming competitions."
Khiew Hoe Yean, who has been Malaysia's most outstanding male swimmer in recent seasons, is the clear cut choice to receive a wildcard in the men's category.
He, however, is still determined to qualify on merit by either achieving the Olympic qualifying time (OQT) or Olympic consideration time (OCT).
Hoe Yean has been training in Australia since early this year.
"Hoe Yean still has a few more competitions to race in, so there is still a chance for him to achieve the qualification times," said Andy.
"If he does not achieve it, then he can still compete in Paris via a wildcard.
"He will likely continue his training in Australia right up until the Paris Olympics."
Andy said Hoe Yean was expected to compete in the Malaysian Open from May 23 to 26 and the Singapore National Championships from June 12 to 15.
The Olympic qualifying window for swimming closes on June 23.