SHAH ALAM, Aug 19 — For Khairul Dean Harith Khairul Annuar, 16, his passion for water polo did not come about by chance.
It all began with the inspiration he drew from his elder brother to take up the sport.
His mother, Zane Qamariah Ambotang, said Khairul Dean began playing water polo at the age of 12, following in the footsteps of his brother, who is now training with a water polo squad in Australia.
She said that despite the distance separating them, the brothers remain in close contact and regularly exchange views on training and playing techniques.
“He followed in the footsteps of his brother, who also plays water polo and is now training in Australia with a squad there.
“Despite the distance, they continue to encourage each other, and it is a wonderful thing when siblings play the same sport,” she told Media Selangor.
Zane described Khairul Dean's opportunity to compete at the Malaysia Games (SUKMA) 2026 as a proud achievement, saying it gave her son the chance to build his confidence and compete against more experienced players.
She also hoped more young players would have opportunities to train and compete overseas to raise the standard of their game.
She said international exposure was important in helping players understand different styles of play while identifying weaknesses they needed to improve.
Making his SUKMA debut, Khairul Dean proved his potential by helping Selangor secure the silver medal in the men's water polo event after losing to Sarawak in the final on August 17.
