Competing in the Boys Under-15 category, the young squad is aiming to make waves on the national stage, with a longer-term goal of competing in the 2026 Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Selangor.
“Our goal is to compete in Sukma and win a medal for Sabah,” said team manager Ivan Chu, who has been spearheading the development of the sport in a state where water polo remains largely under the radar.
Founded in 2022, 7Samudra Water Polo Club has emerged as a pioneer for water polo in Sabah, actively working to introduce and promote the sport across schools and communities. The club was established not only to train athletes, but also to create a sustainable grassroots system for water polo as both a competitive and recreational pursuit.
“This championship is about more than medals,” Chu added.
“We want to expose our players to a higher level of competition beyond Sabah. It’s about experience and growth.”
The Malaysia Open will be another key step in that journey. Several of 7Samudra’s players previously represented Sabah at the MSSM (Malaysia School Sports Council) water polo competition, gaining valuable national exposure — and half of that squad will return for this tournament in Bukit Jalil.
Water polo has a long but niche history in Malaysia, traditionally dominated by teams from peninsula states such as Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, and Penang. The sport is a regular feature at national-level events like Sukma and MSSM.
However, in Sabah water polo has only recently begun to gain traction. 7Samudra is working to change that narrative.
“The ultimate aim is to put Sabah on the national water polo map,” Chu said.
“We want to show that our athletes can compete, and eventually, contribute medals at Sukma level and beyond.”
While 7Samudra is still in its formative years, the dedication of its players, coaches, and support system suggests a promising future — not just for the club, but for the broader development of water polo in East Malaysia.
With the Malaysia Open just around the corner, Sabah’s young hopefuls will be looking to make a splash — and perhaps spark a new era for the sport in the state.
7Samudra players are Eamonn Webber (SM Tinggi Kota Kinabalu), Jonathan Rico Tsen Chun Jie (SM Tinggi Kota Kinabalu), Raphael Iverson Wong (SRS Datuk Simon Fung), Ean Xavier Alfred (SJKC Lok Yuk Menggatal Manggatal), Nicholas Wong Qi Min (SM Lok Yuk Likas), Nathan Leong Yit Yong (Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School), Baxter Lee Zhen Lip (SM Lok Yuk Likas), Muhd Borhan B Jasnih (Maktab Nasional), Iman B Azry Hendry Sung (Maktab Nasional) and Tan Kay Ven (Tshung Tsin Secondary School).