Invitational Berths Withdrawn as Malaysian Swimmer Qualifies on Merit

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 (Bernama) -- FINA, the International Amateur Swimming Federation, has withdrawn two invitational berths offered to Malaysia for the London Olympics 2012 after national marathon swimmer Heidi Gan qualified on merit. Heidi, 23, who won two gold medals at the SEA Games in Indonesia last year, qualified for the Olympics after passing the qualifying mark in the 10km marathon swimming event at the FINA Olympics in Portugal last month. Hence, Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) honorary secretary Sieh Kok Chi denied reports that national swimmers failed to make it to the Olympics as none of them met the qualifying times. "I have contacted them (FINA) recently to inform them that Heidi Gan had qualified (for the Olympics). So, both invitational slots automatically became void," he said when contacted. Sieh said based on FINA rules, countries whose athletes could not qualify based on merit would be given two invitational slots but they would be withdrawn once any of their athletes qualified on merit. Meanwhile, Sieh said the Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) had until Monday to submit the names of two athletes for the Olympics to the London Olympic Games Organising Committee. -- BERNAMA