Swimmer Welson Sim (pic) has been given a second chance to train on his own in Melbourne, Australia, in his bid to secure a ticket for the Tokyo Olympic Games.

National swimming coach Chris Martin said Welson returned to Melbourne last weekend where he will be training at the Vicente Swimming Club under coach Craig Jackson.

The Australian coach also trains reigning 400m freestyle Olympic champion Mack Horton.

Welson’s stint in Melbourne is made possible with financial backing from the Sarawak State Sports Council and the Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak.

“He has received financial support to train on his own at the club but he has to return home to swim in the Malaysian Open here in Bukit Jalil in April.

Asum want him to be more accountable for his activities this time.

“Previously he was on his own when he was in Melbourne and we did not really know how well he was progressing, ” said Martin.

“It was agreed the coach over there will email me the information of his training activities so that we are in the loop.

“Basically, we are okay for him to train on his own in Melbourne as we want the best results for him. We will give him until April and see the level of improvements.

“If he is committed to achieve what he sets out for, I am sure there will be results, ” said the American coach, who has been in charge of the national team in Bukit Jalil since May.

The 23-year-old, despite training in Melbourne for eight months, failed in his bid to defend his 200m and 400m freestyle titles at the Philippines SEA Games last month.

He settled for two silvers – 200m and 400m freestyle – and a bronze as part of the 4x200m freestyle relay.

Welson, who qualified on merit for the last Olympics in Rio de Janeiro for the 200m and 400m freestyle, has until June to make the grade for Tokyo.9*