TWO young Penang rowers have made history by clinching silver at the Asian Beach Sprint Championship in their first-ever international outing at Pattaya, Thailand, held from Aug 8 to 10.

Lew Kai Wen and Cheah Wei Bo, both Under-16 athletes, took second place in the Men’s Double Sculls (CM2X) event, which was the first time Penang Under-16 rowers have ever won a medal at the prestigious tournament.

Penang Rowing Association (PRA) president Sim Ghee Beng hailed the achievement as a milestone for the state and Malaysia.

“Our main aim was to provide a platform for the athletes to gain valuable international exposure. Winning a medal on their debut is a joy for us and makes us extremely proud,” he said.

Sim said the victory proved that Penang athletes could compete at the highest level.

“The gap to the gold medal is not far. I believe that with the right goals and support, the future looks promising,” he added.

He praised Kai Wen and Wei Bo for their humility, determination and never-give-up spirit, which he said had inspired the rest of the team.

“The road to the podium, however, was far from easy as they faced challenges such as limited funding, equipment gaps compared to rowing powerhouses, and the sport’s low exposure in Malaysia.

“We hope this achievement will encourage more support from the state and the National Sports Council (NSC) to ensure our rowers can aim even higher,” he said.

Kai Wen,14, said he still has room to improve in controlling the boat, especially in a doubles event where coordination is key.

“Wei Bo is a great partner, and I hope we can perform even better next time. I’m truly grateful to my parents for giving me this opportunity and supporting me to take part in this international event, as well as to my coach for the valuable guidance,” he said.

Wei Bo,15, also thanked their coach for the dedicated training and guidance.

“This was my first time competing in an international event, and I realised I still lack experience. I will continue to work hard and aim to bring home a gold medal next year,” he said.

Looking ahead, Sim is confident the young duo have what it takes to shine internationally.

“They are still relatively young. If they continue to train hard and refine their skills, the next five years will be their time to shine,” he said, adding that the PRA aims to see Penang rowers clinch gold in future tournaments.

Sim expressed hopes to continue nurturing Penang talent to uplift rowing to greater glory on the world stage.

Story by Edmund Lee