KUCHING: From seasoned campaigners to rising stars, Sarawak’s athletes are entering the Borneo Games 2025 with fire in their eyes and medals on their minds – from the swimming pool to the badminton courts.
Among them is Job Tan Xi Jay, a 25-year-old coach with the Hornbill Swimming Club, who is making a spirited comeback after briefly stepping away from competitive sport.
The former national swimmer, who bagged bronze for Malaysia in the 200m breaststroke at the 2022 SEA Games in Vietnam, will represent Sarawak in the 100m and 200m breaststroke as well as the 4x100m freestyle relay.
“It’s been feeling good. These past few weeks I’ve trained pretty hard, and now we are tapering down, so the sessions feel easier.
“I’m definitely going for gold in all my events. The aim is to make Sarawak proud, give our best, and enjoy the competition,” he told Sarawak Tribune in an interview recently.
Job admitted he only returned to training about three months ago but said the journey has been transformative.
“I came out of retirement and have been working on getting fitter. I’ve lost quite a lot of fat, built up more strength, and I feel like I’m getting there,” he added.
Sharing the pool with Job is 15-year-old Chereen Yirui Ngo, who will compete in multiple freestyle events, including the 200m, 400m, and 800m as well as the 50m breaststroke.
A student at Chung Hua Middle School No.1, Chereen has embraced the intensity of daily training with confidence.
“I’m enjoying it so far, even though training is almost the whole week with only Mondays off,” she said.
“For the 800m freestyle, I feel confident, and I think I can go for gold. My goal is just to give my best in every event.”
Over at the badminton courts, Kong Chee Kiet is set for a return to the Borneo Games stage, having won silver in the men’s doubles back in 2011.
Now the head coach of JPro Badminton Academy Kuching, Kong said preparations with his doubles partner under Indonesian coach, Ichwansyah Rusli Ali, have been solid.
“The first few days of training were tough, but after a while we got used to it and worked well with the coach.
“We’ve been doing gym, strength, and skills training. Expectations are there, of course, but the main thing is to play our best,” he said.
As for Wafa Shahmina Rahman of Miri, the Kuching edition marks her debut at the Borneo Games.
Partnering with Wendy Feebie Ricky, her doubles teammate of four years, Wafa is looking to build on their recent runners-up finish at the SBA Junior Badminton Tournament.
“This is my first Borneo Games; so, I don’t want to expect too much. But insya-Allah, with the chemistry I have with my partner and the guidance of our coaches, we’ll do our best,” said Wafa who hails from Kampung Batu Niah.
Together, these athletes embody the mix of experience, youthful ambition, and team spirit that Sarawak hopes will carry them to glory as the host state of the Borneo Games 2025.
