SWIMMING: Talent Pool Drying Up Fast

AS familiar faces from the national squad dominated the Malaysia Games swimming competition which concluded on Wednesday, their participation defeated the purpose of identifying new talent.
Except for the emergence of the Federal Territories' Christina Loh, 15, who broke the women's 50m breaststroke Games record, and Kedah's Chi Chiah Kian, 16, who won the men's 50m and 100m butterfly gold, the rest of the events saw national swimmers winning with ease.

Thirteen Games records and one national record by ex-Sea Games gold medallist Chui Lai Kwan were set at the Hang Jebat Sports Complex Aquatic Centre. All of them, except for Christina's feat, were set by national squad members.

Kevin Lim, Foo Jian Beng, Ian James Barr, Melvin Chua, Yap See Tuan, Kevin Yeap, Marellyn Liew and Lai Kwan are seasoned campaigners and one would have expected more records to fall.
And this has raised questions over the quality of the national swimmers on the international stage.

Former Asian Games champion Lim Keng Liat, Malaysia's only swimmer who can be considered truly world class, was blunt in his assessment.

He said the current crop of national swimmers are out of their depth at Asian and Commonwealth Games levels and are even struggling in the Sea Games.

"Malaysia Games swimming is so predictable nowadays.

"Go through the startlist and you will know who is going to win each event but what is of concern is the quality of the current swimmers," said Keng Liat.

"You take away Daniel Bego and there is no one who dominates the Sea Games. Even Daniel will struggle in the Asian and Commonwealth Games this year.

"Thailand are thrashing us at the regional age group level and we are left far behind. I don't even know if the current group can beat me or some of my teammates if we dive into the pool now.

"That's the situation at the moment. The current system should change.

"We can have the best facilities and even hire the best coach in the world but that will not guarantee success.

"The present swimmers are comfortable training at home. They must be based abroad where they can compete throughout the year and against quality swimmers.

"The United States is ideal as they have the right system. Not only do we get systematic training, we have sufficient tournaments and get to compete with world class rivals.

"Until we have everything in place, overseas -- especially the US -- is the best place for national team members to train if they want to become world class," added Keng Liat.

Kah Yan Tutup Tirai Dengan Tujuh Emas

Chan Kah Yan ceria mempamerkan tujuh pingat emas dan dua perak yang dimenanginya dalam pelbagai acara renang pada Sukan Malaysia di Pusat Akuatik Hang Jebat, Krubong, semalam.

MELAKA - Perenang kebangsaan, Chan Kah Yan menutup tirai kejohanan renang Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) XIII dengan cemerlang selepas berjaya mengutip emas ketujuhnya di temasya ini dengan meraih dua lagi emas di Pusat Akuatik Hang Jebat, di sini, semalam.

Layak untuk bergelar ratu renang, Kah Yan yang mewakili Wilayah Persekutuan melengkapkan koleksi pingat emasnya pada hari terakhir kejohanan itu menerusi acara 100m kuak lentang individu wanita dan 4x100m rampaian berganti wanita.

Lebih manis, kejayaan itu turut membuatkan perenang berusia 18 tahun itu muncul sebagai atlet wanita yang memungut emas tertinggi berserta dua perak pada Sukma edisi ke-13 setakat ini.

Kah Yan sebelum ini meraih emas menerusi acara 100m gaya bebas, 200m gaya bebas, 200m kuak lentang, 200m rampaian individu, 800m gaya bebas daripada 11 acara yang disertainya.

Menurut perenang yang hanya meraih satu emas dan enam perak pada Sukma Terengganu 2008, dia amat terkejut dengan pencapaiannya itu selain gembira dapat memperbaiki prestasi dirinya.

''Ini memang satu kejutan yang besar buat saya dan saya amat gembira selepas mampu membuat kemunculan semula yang baik selepas memberi tumpuan terhadap peperiksaan SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) tahun lalu," katanya.

Dia yang mencatat masa 1:05.83s untuk meraih emas dalam acara 100m kuak lentang meninggalkan Loo Hei Di dari Selangor (1:08.30s) yang membawa pulang perak ketika Cheng Karmen dari Perak pula sekadar berpuas hati dengan gangsa (1:09.31s).

Sementara itu, perenang elit kebangsaan dari Perak, Kevin Yeap Soon menyaksikan kehebatannya selepas berjaya meraih emas dalam acara 1500m gaya bebas individu lelaki (15:59.08s) sekali gus memecahkan rekodnya sendiri (16:07.71s) di Sukma Terengganu dua tahun lalu.

Di samping itu, seorang lagi perenang elit kebangsaan Ian James Barr dari Wilayah Persekutuan mengungguli acara 100m kuak lentang individu lelaki untuk merangkul emas dengan catatan masa 59.55s.

Ian sekali lagi berjaya mengutip emas keduanya semalam menerusi acara 4X100m rampaian berganti lelaki hasil gandingan mantap kuartet yang turut dibarisi Melvin Chua, Kevin Lim dan Joshua Lee dengan merakamkan masa 3:58.72s.

Dalam acara 50m gaya bebas individu wanita pula, Chui Lai Kwan (Sabah) mencatatkan masa 26.56s untuk meraih emas, manakala Foo Jian Beng (Selangor) mengakhiri saingan 50m gaya bebas individu lelaki dengan mencatat 23.68s bagi tempat pertama.

Kevin Completes Hat-trick Of Double Golds In Sukma Swimming

PERAK’s Kevin Yeap Soon Choy wrapped up the final day of the swimming competition in style with a new Games record in the men’s 1,500m freestyle at the Hang Jebat Aquatic Centre yesterday.

The 21-year-old national swimmer, who had won the 400m race in a meet record time the previous day, thus earned a double in the distance freestyle event for the third consecutive time in the Games.

Yesterday, Kevin finished the 30-lap race in 15:59.08 to erase his previous time of 16:07.71 set in Terengganu two years ago.

Sarawak’s Vernon Lee clinched the silver medal in 16:27.82 and the bronze medal went to Selangor’s Yip Kin Seng in 16:54.17.

“It is another excellent result for me today (yesterday),” said Kevin, who has a personal best of 15:51.80, which he clocked to take the silver medal at the Laos SEA Games last year.

“I am happy to retain the gold medal and to set another Sukma record. My time at the Laos SEA Games was better but I am happy to dip below 16 minutes.”

Meanwhile, the Federal Territories Chan Kah Yan emerged as a star performer in swimming, bagging seven gold medals and setting two new meet records.

Yesterday, she won two gold medals in the women’s 100m backstroke and 4x100m medley together with Christina Loh, Chong Siew Mun and Tania Lee. She had earlier won gold in the 100m, 200m and 800m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 200m individual medley.

FT emerged as the overall winners in swimming with a medal haul of 17-12-7.

MALAYSIA GAMES/SWIMMING: Kevin Delivers, Kah Yan Crowned Golden Girl

Perak’s Kevin Yeap shows off his gold medal after winning the 1,500 freestyle in record time yesterday.

KEVIN Yeap of Perak fulfilled his promise of breaking the Malaysia Games record in his pet event, the 1,500 freestyle, on a day when Chan Kah Yan of the Federal Territories became the darling of the pool by grabbing seven gold medals as the swimming competition came to a close at Hang Jebat Sports Complex Aquatic Centre yesterday.
Kevin was way ahead of the field as he recorded 15:59.08s to better his own Games record of 16:07.71 which he set in Terengganu in 2008.

Vernon Lee of Sarawak was almost 30 metres behind as he registered 16:27.82 while Yip Kin Seng of Selangor was third with 16:54.17.

Kevin was satisfied as he not only set a new record but also completed the 400m-1,500m freestyle double in three consecutive Games.

His next aim is to smash the 19-year-old national record of 15:23.61, the longest standing swimming record, set by Jeffrey Ong.

"I swam an excellent race and am happy to have set a new record. Although I'm still far from the national record, I have been consistently clocking below 16 minutes and I'm happy," said Kevin.

"Jeffrey is still our best in the 1,500m and I still have a long way to go before I can hope for the record.

"But I want to do it in the next two to three years."

Kah Yan continued her splendid form as she captured the women's 100m backstroke and helped FT to win the 4x100m medley to bring her tally to seven gold and two silver medals.

Kah Yan clocked 1:05.83, Loo Hei Di of Selangor (1:08.30) was second and Perak's Chang Karmen (1:09.31) third.

In the 4x100m freestyle, Kah Yan, Christina Loh, Chong Siew Mun and Tania Lee clocked 4:25.82 to break the Games record of 4:27.12 set by Sabah in 2008.

Sabah were second with 4:27.57 Sarawak third with 4:36.79.

It was a total reversal in Kah Yan's fortunes after winning just one gold and six silver medals in Terengganu two years ago.

"I was just aiming to improve on my personal best here and winning seven gold medals is definitely a big surprise.

"It is a complete turnaround from what I achieved in Terengganu," said the 18-year-old Kah Yan.

"My hard work for a year paid off and I will continue competing in multiple events in future.

"I hope to win the Best Female Athlete award in these Games to complete a superb outing for me."

Ian James Bar of FT won his third gold when he captured the men's 100m backstroke with a time of 59.55 and was also part of the 4x100m medley who eclipsed another Games record.

Ian, Melvin Chua, Kevin Lim and Joshua Lee registered 3:58.75 to beat the mark of 3:58.77 set by Sarawak in 2008.

Selangor won the silver with 4:00.36 and Sarawak clinched bronze with 4:04.29.

Foo Jian Beng of Selangor also secured his third goal by winning the men's 50m freestyle in 23.68 while Sabah's Chui Lai Kwan won the women's 50m freestyle in 26.56.

FT were the runaway winners in the overall tally as they collected 17 gold, 12 silver and seven bronze while Sabah were second with eight gold, five silver and nine bronze medals.

FT's Muhammad Fakhrul Khairuddin won the men's diving 3-metre springboard gold with 403.90 points as Ahmad Amsyar Azman of Perlis took silver (366.05) and Ooi Tze Liang of Penang bagged the bronze (358.10).

SWIMMING: Kevin Sets New Mark

KEVIN Yeap smashed the eight-year-old men's 400m freestyle record by former Sea Games gold medallist Dieung Manggang to deliver Perak's first Malaysia Games swimming gold at the Hang Jebat Sports Complex Aquatic Centre yesterday.

Kevin, 21, registered 4:02.11s to eclipse the old mark of 4:02.82 set by Dieung in Sabah but the Ipoh-born swimmer was disappointed for failing to dip below four minutes.

Vernon Lee of Sarawak was more than six seconds behind at 4:08.35 while Joshua Lee of Federal Territories (FT) clocked 4:11.88 for bronze.

Kevin's personal best is 4:00.30s set at the Malaysia Open last month and he was frustrated for letting go the opportunity to dip below four minutes.

"I wanted to clock below four minutes but couldn't achieve it although I really felt good. At least, it was a Games record and I have also managed to win the 400m freestyle gold three times in a row," said Kevin.

Kevin will be competing in the 1,500m freestyle today.

FT broke only the second Games record of the day in the men's 4x100m relay when the quartet of Ian James Barr, Kevin Lim, Melvin Chua and Joshua Lee registered 7:54.20, beating the old mark of 7:57.81 set by Sarawak in 2008.

Sarawak were a distant second after clocking 8:04.22 while Sabah were third with 8:12.46.

Kedah's Chi Chia Khian continued his superb form as he won his second gold by capturing the men's 100m butterfly with 57.45. Adam Lim of Selangor (57.63) was second while Clement David of Sabah finished third (58.23).

Yap See Tuan of Pahang secured his third gold by winning the 200m breaststroke in 2:20.42, but fell short of breaking Elvin Chia of Sabah's Games record of 2:19.27.

In the women's events, Lai Wei Lee of Sabah (women's 400m freestyle), Marellyn Liew (women's 100m butterfly) and Erika Kong of Sarawak (200m breaststroke) all secured their second individual gold medals.

FT are the runaway leaders after grabbbing 13 gold, 12 silver and six bronze while Sabah won the women's 4x200m to increase their tally to seven gold, four silver and eight bronze.

In diving, FT's Ng Yan Yee won the women's three-metre springboard gold with 266.90, while Jasmine Lai of Perak (251.75) took silver and Traisy Vivian of Sarawak (244.05) clinched bronze.

Siew Siew Brings Sarawak Swimming Gold To Three

MELAKA: Sarawak swimmer Hii Siew Siew stole the limelight at Aquatics Centre, Hang Jebat Sports Complex yesterday when she won the women’s 200m butterfly in a new record time of 02:20.66.

ANOTHER BRONZE: (From left) Esther Yii, Grace Yii, Erika Kong and Siew Siew. • Photo by Davidson Kho
Coming in second in 02:20.91 was Chong Siew Mun of Kuala Lumpur while another Sarawakian Angela Chieng took the bronze with a time of 02:28.32.

The old meet record of 02:20.70 was held by Sia Wai Yen of Kuala Lumpur set in 2000.

Sarawak won another bronze in the women’s 4×100m freestyle relay when they clocked 04:07.29 behind the gold medallists from Sabah whose time was 03:59.33 while Kuala Lumpur finished second in 04:05.80.

Sarawak were represented by Erika Kong, Siew Siew, Esther Yii and her sister Grace Yii.

With yesterday’s gold from Siew Siew, the state swimmers have so far won three golds and achieved their medal target.

Amateur Swimming Association of Sarawak (Asas) secretary Paul Lim said it was an extraordinary achievement as he did expect the golds to come together with the meet records.

On Saturday, Erika and Brian Derrick Lim brought a golden cheer to the Sarawak contingent when they won in their respective events – women’s 100m breaststroke and men’s 50m backstroke.

Erika clocked 01:12.45 to erase the old record time of 01:13.54 created by Siow Yi Ting in 2002 while Brian registered a new time of 27.81 in the men’s 50m backstroke to erase the old mark of 27.91 set by Linvern Lim of Sabah in 2004.

“I am happy that we have reached our three-gold medal target but disappointed that we lost the gold in the men’s 50m butterfly yesterday,” he said.

According to Lim, Brian failed to win the gold because he paused at the start as he thought it was a false start.

As a result, he lost precious seconds and missed the gold by 0.16s.

Lim said Brian had previously recorded the best time in the event and there was no one near that mark.

“We are hoping to reap more golds through Erika and Brian in the women’s 200m breaststroke and men’s 100m butterfly tomorrow,” said Lim.

Eight more golds are on offer on the fourth day of swimming competition today.

The events are men’s 100m butterfly, men’s 200m breaststroke, men’s 400m freestyle, men’s 4×200m freestyle relay, women’s 100m butterfly, women’s 200m breaststroke, women’s 400m freestyle and women’s 4×200m freestyle relay.

Kevin Breaks Games Record To Win 400m Freestyle Gold

NATIONAL swimmer Kevin Yeap Soon Choy picked up Perak’s first gold medal in swimming and smashed the Sukma record in the men’s 400m freestyle at the Hang Jebat Aquatic Centre yesterday.

The 21-year-old, a silver medallist at the Laos SEA Games last year, clocked 4:02.11 to erase the meet record of 4:02.82 set by Sarawakian Dieung Manggan in 2002 in Kota Kinabalu.

Sarawak’s Vernon Lee won the silver in 4:08.35 and Joshua Lee Leam Yoong of the Federal Territories took bronze in 4:11.88.

“I could have done better but I was not feeling too good,” said Kevin, who is also the favourite to pick up the gold in the 1,500m freestyle today.

At the Malaysian Open last month, Kevin won a double for Perak – winning both the 400m and 1,500m freestyle races. He has also won both the two events in Sukma since the 2006 edition in Alor Setar.

The Federal Territories men’s 4x200m freestyle team of Ian James Barr, Kevin Lim Kar Meng, Melvin Chua Bao Quan and Joshu Lee Leam Yoong set the second meet record of the day. They won the gold in 7:54.20, erasing the old mark of 7:57.81 set by Sarawak in 2008.

Sarawak picked up the silver in 8:04.22 while Sabah took the bronze in 8:12.46.

With one day more of competition to go, FT lead the medal standings in swimming with a haul of 13-12-6 ahead of Sabah (7-4-8) and Sarawak (4-5-3).

In diving, Perak topped the standings on 2-2-2 followed by Sarawak (2-1-2) and Penang (2-1-0).

Poor Start Stops Yap From Breaking National Record

I did it: Pahang’s Yap See Tuan celebrating after winning the gold medal in the 50m breastroke.

A POOR start dashed national swimmer Yap See Tuan hopes to improve on his national record in the men’s 50m breaststroke at the Hang Jebat Aquatic Centre yesterday.

The Pahang swimmer broke the Sukma record in the heats by clocking 30.28, erasing the previous mark of 30.94 he set in Terengganu two years ago.

He went faster in the final, clocking 30.00 but it fell short of his national record of 29.80 he set in the President’s Cup championships in Seremban last December. Johor’s Edmund Ooi clocked 30.91 for the silver while Selangor’s Lau Zheng Fong took the bronze in 31.20.

“My mission in the Games was to break the national record. I was in good form but I lost the chance because of a poor start in the final,” said the 21-year-old See Tuan.

“I was only in third place at the start and I had to swim as fast as I could to win the race. I have a problem making a proper jump into the pool since I underwent surgery on my left shoulder in 2008. I am unhappy even though I broke the Games record twice today.

See Tuan, who competed in the Laos SEA Games last December, is down to compete in the 200m breaststroke today.

Three more Games records fell yesterday. Fifteen-year-old Christina Loh of the Federal Territories broke the women’s 50m breaststroke record by almost a second.

The Form Three student of Aminuddin Baki Secondary School clocked 33.55 to erase the previous record of 34.43 set by Raja Azlina Izzah of Terengganu in 2008. Pahang’s Boey Wen Teng clocked 34.34 to bag the silver. Another FT swimmer, Tan Rou Jun, won the bronze in 34.77.

Sarawakian Hii Siew Siew broke the women’s 200m butterfly record with a time of 2:20.66, erasing the 10-year-old mark of 2:20.70 set by Sia Wai Yen of FT in Penang in 2000. Chong Siew Mun of FT (2:22.91) and Angela Chieng of Sarawak (2:28.32) bagged the silver and bronze respectively.

The last record of the day was broken by Selangor’s Lim Ching Hwang, Teh Wei Pin, Yip Kin Seng and Foo Jian Beng in the men’s 4x100m freestyle. They clocked 3:34.96 to wipe out a 14-year-old record of 3:38.76 set by Perak in Kuantan in 1996.

Aquatic: See Tuan's Slow Start

A POOR dive from the blocks cost Pahang's Yap See Tuan a national record but he still managed to smash the Malaysia Games men's 50m breastroke record at Hang Jebat Sports Complex Aquatic Centre in Alor Gajah yesterday.
See Tuan's slow starts have become a norm since surgery to his left shoulder in 2008 as the Kuantan-born swimmer is unable to keep his hands close before diving into the pool.

See Tuan had beaten his own Games record of 30.94s in the heats and was looking forward to rewriting his national mark of 29.80 but only registered 30.00. Ooi Jia En of Johor was second with 30.91 while Lau Zheng Fong of Perak clocked 31.20 to finish third.

See Tuan, who also won the 100m breastroke on Friday, said that his slow starts have always left his coaches fuming but he is unable to overcome the problem.

"I was slow to dive and was down to third place.

If I could have had a decent start, I would have broken the national record," said See Tuan.

"I suffered a shoulder injury and had to go for surgery.

I can swim better now but the pain is there when I over-exert in training and I also find it difficult to keep my hands together which is important to get a smooth start. "Nevertheless, I am aiming for the Games record in the 200m breastroke tomorrow (today)." Three Games records fell in the women's events.

Christina Loh of FT registered 33.55 in the 50m breastroke to beat the old record of 34.43 held by Raja Azlina Izzah of Terengganu.

Boey Wen Teng of Pahang was second (34.34) and Tan Rou Jun of FT third with 34.77.

Hii Siew Siew of Sarawak beat the 200m butterfly record of 2:20.70 set by Sia Wai Yen in Sabah a decade ago with 2:20.66 as Chong Siew Mun of FT finished second (2:22.91) while Angela Chieng of Sarawak was third (2:28.32).

Sabah quartet Chui Lai Kwan, Heng Kor Jin, Terri Wan and Marellyn Liew broke their own record of 3:56.51 set in 2008 with 3:59.33 while FT settled for silver (4:05.80) and Sarawak secured bronze (4:07.29).

FT's Chan Kah Yan continued her dominance by winning her fifth individual gold with a slow 9:23.20 in the 800m freestyle.

Tan Li Ling of Sabah (9:39.58) and Freda Awang Pan of Sabah (9:50.36) finished second and third respectively.

Selangor won two gold medals through Kevin Lim in the men's 200m butterfly and the men's 4x100m freestyle.

Meanwhile, Ooi Tze Liang of Penang won his second gold medal in diving when he took home the men's individual 10-metre platform with 389.35.

Ahmad Fakhri Khairuddin of Selangor was second with 385.30 and Pardika Indoma of Sarawak third (381.60).

SUKMA: Kevin Yeap Catat Rekod Baru Renang 400m Gaya Bebas

Kevin Yeap, Perenang Dari Perak Catat Rekod Kejohanan 400m Gaya Bebas SUKMA. Foto: Dusa Abas

MELAKA, 15 Jun (Bernama) -- Perenang jarak jauh kebangsaan Kevin Yeap merangkul pingat emas dan mencatatkan rekod baru Sukan Malaysia (SUKMA) dalam acara 400m gaya bebas lelaki di Pusat Akuatik Hang Jebat di sini Selasa.

Perenang dari Perak itu yang berpusat di Bukit Jalil dan akan genap usia 21 tahun Ogos ini, mencatatkan 4 minit 2.11 saat bagi memadamkan rekod lama 4:02.82s yang dilakukan oleh peserta Sarawak, Dieung Manggan semasa SUKMA Sabah lapan tahun lepas.

Wakil Sarawak Vernon Lee terpaksa berpuas hati di tempat kedua dengan catatan 4:08.35s dan gangsa diraih oleh Joshua Lee dari Wilayah Persekutuan dengan masa 4:11.88s.

"Sebenarnya, memang sasaran saya untuk memecahkan rekod dalam acara ini. Catatan terbaik saya ialah 4 minit dan saya cuba mencatatkan masa yang lebih rendah malangnya saya gagal berbuat demikian. Namun begitu, saya gembira dapat memecahkan rekod di sini," kata Kevin.

Kevin berkata beliau mencatatkan masa terbaiknya 4:00.31s bulan lepas semasa Kejohanan Renang Terbuka Malaysia kali ke-53 di Pusat Akuatik Nasional di Bukit Jalil.

"Saya akan cuba memecah rekod saya sendiri dalam acara 1,500m gaya bebas iaitu acara kegemaran saya esok," kata Kevin, yang berharap untuk menjadi perenang pertama memenangi emas berganda dalam acara 400m dan 1,500m gaya bebas dalam SUKMA tiga kali berturut-turut.

Katanya ketika muncul buat kali pertama dalam Sukma Negeri Sembilan pada 2004, beliau hanya berjaya memenangi pingat gangsa dalam kedua-dua acara.

Selain Kevin, kuartet dari Wilayah Persekutuan yang beraksi dalam acara 4x200m gaya bebas lelaki berganti-ganti mencuri tumpuan apabila mereka turut mencatatkan rekod baru kejohanan.

Kuartet itu terdiri daripada Ian James Barr, Kevin Lim, Melvin Chua dan Joshua Lee mencatatkan 7:54.20s bagi memadamkan rekod sebelum ini 7:57.81s yang dilakukan dua tahun lepas oleh perenang dari Sarawak.

-- BERNAMA

Sukma: Kah Yan Terus Cemerlang

Raih tiga emas dan satu rekod kejohanan acara renang KAH Yan bersama tiga pingat emas yang dimenanginya di Pusat Akuatik Hang Jebat, semalam.
CHAN Kah Yan semakin hampir untuk dijulang selaku ratu renang Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) XIII apabila meraih tiga pingat emas dan satu rekod kejohanan di Pusat Akuatik Kompleks Hang Jebat, semalam sekali gus membuktikan keputusannya menangguhkan pengajian selama setahun untuk memberi tumpuan kepada sukan ini, berbaloi. Perenang berusia 18 tahun dari Wilayah Persekutuan itu, yang mengejar kedudukan dalam skuad renang kebangsaan ke Sukan Komanwel di New Dehli, Ogos ini, tidak menunjukkan tanda kepenatan walaupun terpaksa turun ke kolam renang sebanyak tiga kali berselang hanya beberapa minit. Tiga emas yang menangi semalam, menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan empat emas diraih perenang itu setakat ini.

“Memang penat. Saya hanya sempat menyejukkan badan hanya 15 minit,” kata Kah Yan. “Rekod baru ini memang mengejutkan kerana saya tidak menjangka mampu memenangi pingat emas.”

Kah Yan memulakan tuaian emas melalui acara 200m kuak lentang dengan catatan 2 minit 24.87 saat sebelum turun ke kolam untuk cara kedua 100 meter gaya bebas.

Dia membuktikan kekuatannya dalam acara itu dengan rekod baru kejohanan 58.10 saat, memadamkan catatan lama 58.14 saat milik perenang Sabah, Leung Chii Lin, yang dilakukan pada temasya XII, sebelum memenangi emas ketiganya dalam acara 200 meter rampaian individu dengan kepantasan dua minit 24.94 saat.

Wilayah Persekutuan turut mendominasi kolam renang apabila menambah dua lagi pingat emas dalam acara lelaki melalui Ian James Barr dalam 200m rampaian individu dengan rekod baru kejohanan 2:08:09s dan Melvin Chua, 200m kuak lentang dalam masa 2:07.81s, bagi keseluruhan lima emas dimenangi kontinjen itu.

Tiga lagi pingat emas dikongsi oleh perenang Selangor, Foo Jian Beng dalam 100m gaya bebas lelaki, Chi Chia Khian dari Kedah (50m kupu-kupu lelaki) dan Marellyn Liew dari Sabah melalui acara 50m kupu-kupu wanita.

Swimming: Magnificent Kah Yan

Chin Mong Peng hugs her daughter Chan Kah Yan after her outstanding performance in the pool yesterday.
IT could well turn out to be Chan Kah Yan's Games as the Federal Territories swimmer achieved a hat-trick of gold medals and in the process set a record at the Hang Jebat Sports Complex Aquatic Centre in Alor Gajah yesterday.

Two years ago, Kah Yan, 18, could only manage one gold (4x200) and six silver medals. After starting the swimming programme by winning the women's 200m freestyle and silver in the 50m backstroke on Friday, the national swimmer won the women's 100m freestyle, 200m backstroke and the 200m individual medley yesterday. Kah Yan broke the Games record in the 100m freestyle by clocking 58.10 seconds, beating Sabah's Leong Chii Lin's mark of 58.14s set in Terengganu. Second was Low Xue Ting of Johor (59.16) while Heng Kor Jin of Sabah (1:00.66) was third. Kah Yan earlier won the 200m backstroke by clocking 2:24.87 to finish ahead of Amanda Pasaoa Lee of Selangor (2:28.76) and Cheng Karmen of Perak (2:30.91). Kah Yan proved her pedigree by capturing her third gold -- the 200m inividual medley -- clocking 2:24.94, as teammate Christin Loh came second (2:29.24) and Chris Tan of Sabah third (2:29.36). "I am used to swimming in many events and today (yesterday), I had only 15 minutes of warm-up after the 200m backstroke. "I am really happy to break the record and winning four gold medals so far.

I only had one gold and six silver in 2008," said Kah Yan. "I still have four more events and I hope I can win more gold and go for records. "I have been fully focused on my swimming since the SPM examinations last year and it has helped me to perform better. "My target now is to secure a place in the 4x100m and 4x200m squads for the New Delhi Asian Games." Kah Yan will be competing in the 800m freestyle, and three relays -- 4x100m, 4x200m freestyles and 4x100m medley -- in the remaining three days of competition. She is a good bet for the 800m freestyle but it will be a close tussle between FT and Sabah, led by Chui Lai Kwan, in the relays. FT's Ian James Bar ended his run of silver medals by cracking the Games record in the men's 200m individual medley to win the gold.

James Barr clocked 2:08.09 to eclipse Allen Ong's 10-year-old record of 2:08.17 set in Penang to secure gold. Foo Jian Beng of Selangor was on course to break his own Games record of 50.94 in the men's 100m freestyle in the first 50m but faded after the turn as he clocked 51.33 to win the gold.

James Chen of Penang took silver in 53.39 while Joshua Lee of FT secured bronze in 53.85. Chi Chia Khian of Kedah won the 50m butterfly when he clocked 26.40 and shocked favourite Joshua Lee of FT while national swimmer Marellyn Liew of Sabah won the gold in the women's 50m butterfly in 27.88. In diving, Tracie Vivian of Sarawak upstaged favourite Kam Ling Kar of Perak to win the women's 10-metre platform. Tracie scored 268.35, Ling Kar had 236.95 while Jasmine Lai of Perak was third with 225.05.

Kah Yan Bags Three Golds, Breaks Record

Golden smiles: FT’s Chan Kah Yan (left) and Melvin Chua posing with their gold medals after winning the women’s and men’s 200m backstroke finals respectively.

A DECISION to take a one-year break from studies to concentrate on swimming has paid off handsomely for Chan Kah Yan in Sukma.

At the Hang Jebat Aquatic Centre yesterday, she won three gold medals for the Federal Territories and broke a Games record.

The 18-year-old bagged her first gold medal of the day in the 200m backstroke with a time of 2:24.87. Selangor’s Amanda Pasaoa Lee took silver in 2:28.76 and Perak’s Cheng Karmen finished third in 2:30.91.

And half-an-hour later, Kah Yan broke the Sukma 100m freestyle record, winning in 58.10 to erase the previous mark of 58.14 set by Leung Chii Lin of Sabah in Terengganu two years ago. The silver and bronze medals went to Johor’s Lee Xue Ting (59.16) and Sabah’s Heng Kor Jin (1:00.66).

Kah Yan was back in the pool 40 minutes later and she won the 200m individual medley in 2:24.94. It was her fourth gold medal-winning effort. Her first victory was in the 200m freestyle on Friday.

Kah Yan said that she never expected to break the record in the 100m freestyle as she was tired after winning the 200m backstroke.

“The two events were only 30 minutes apart and breaking the record was a pleasant surprise,” said Kah Yan, who bagged one gold in six silvers at the Terengganu Games.

“It was a memorable day for me as I broke one record Sukma record and won three golds in 70 minutes.

“My decision to take a one-year break from studies after completing my SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) last December to concentrate on my swimming career has paid off well.

“I am happy to have broken a Sukma record for the first time and will go all out to win gold in 800m freestyle and help FT do well in three relay events (4x100m and 4x200m freestyle and 4x100m medley).”

Another FT swimmer, Ian James Bar, also broke the Games record in the men’s 200m individual medley with a time of 2:08.09, erasing the old mark of 2:08.17 set by Perak’s Allen Ong in Penang in 2000.

Melvin Chua made it a 1-2 for FT, clocking 2:08.96 to finish ahead of Selangor’s Teh Wei Pin (2:13.74).

Traisy Stands Tall In Platform

Petite Sarawakian lass dives to 10m gold, eyes New Delhi

WELL EXECUTED: Traisy performs in the women’s 10m platform at Aquatics Centre, Hang Jebat Sports Complex in Melaka during the 13th Sukma. — Bernama photo

MELAKA: National diver Traisy Vivien Tukiet performed to expectations to deliver Sarawak’s second gold on the second day of the diving competition at Aquatics Centre, Hang Jebat Sports Complex yesterday.

Competing her only event in Sukma, the women’s 10m platform, Traisy had no problem in beating two other national divers Kam Kar Ling and Jasmine Lai both of Perak with a total of 268.35 points.

Kar Ling collected 236.95 points to settle for the silver while Jasmine garnered 225.05 points to collect the bronze.

“Traisy easily won the contest because she is specialist in the platform while the other two national divers are not,” Sarawak team manager Amy Choo said.

At the last Sukma in Terengganu, Traisy won two golds and a silver. The golds were won with her partner Pandelela Rinong in the women’s synchronised platform and women’s 3m springboard while the silver was won in the women’s platform.

Traisy also won a silver at the Laos SEA Games last year, behind gold medallist and fellow Sarawakian Pandelela.

The 16-year-old at Bukit Jalil Sports School, who said she was happy to win the gold and did not target to win the gold, just kept cool and gave her best in the competition.

Asked whether she dreamt of becoming an Olympic diver one day, Traisy replied: “I haven’t thought of that yet.”

Prior to Sukma, Traisy has competed in the World Cup in China early last month and made it to the semi-finals.

Her next assignment is to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India this October.

Surprise Two Golds For Ling Kar In Synchro Diving

Perfect harmony: Perak’s Kam Ling Kar (right) and Cheong Jun Hoong in action en route to winning the women’s 10m sychronised gold medal Saturday. – Bernama

FIFTEEN-year-old Kam Ling Kar set the target to win one gold medal in the Sukma diving competition. And she was looking at the women’s individual 10m platform event in which she won the bronze in the Asian junior championships in Tokyo last year.

But the Perak diver surprises herself by winning two gold medals in the synchronised events at the Hang Jebat Aquatic Centre yesterday.

Ling Kar partnered Jasmine Lai to bag the 3m springboard gold medal with a score of 252.36 ahead of Selangor’s Ng Zheng Ni and Adeline Chin (216.48) and the Federal Territories’ Nur Dhabitah Sabri and Joey Loh Zhiayi (216.21).

She went on to partner Cheong Jun Hoong and they chalked up an impressive score of 283.35 to win the 10m platform event ahead of Penang’s Loke Shin Hui and Teoh Wen Zhing (219.51). Nur Dhabitah and Joey settled for the bronze again with a score of 215.85.

“My mission in Malacca Games was to win gold in my pet event 10m platform after my efforts in Tokyo last year,” said Ling Kar, who made her Sukma debut at the 2008 edition in Terengganu and won a silver in the 3m springboard synchronised event.

“And I never thought that I will win two golds in synchronised diving here. They were very pleasant surprises for me.”

Ling Kar added that the successes yesterday had further boosted her confident and she would go all out to bag both the 3m springboard and 10m platform individual gold medal.

“I hope my good performance in Sukma will earn me a place in the national back-up squad. My aim is to represent Malaysia in the SEA Games in Indonesia next year,” she said.

Diving Gold Makes Up For Earlier Setback

MELAKA: Divers Abdul Rashid Muhamad and Pardika Indoma Pamg made up for their disappointment in the men’s 3m synchronised springboard when they won the men’s 10m synchronised platform gold at the Aquatics Centre at the Hang Jebat Sports Complex.

ALL OURS: Pardika and Rashid display the medals won in the men’s 3m synchronised springboard and men’s 10m synchronised platform. • Photo by Davidson Kho

It was the first gold medal of the day for Sarawak whose athletes were also hunting for gold in cycling, karate-do, archery and tenpin bowling.

Rashid/Pardika collected 338.13 points from three dives to beat Selangor’s Ahmad Fakhri K and Chew Yi Wei who had 308.58 points. Coming in third were Muhamad Syafiq and Adrian Chan of Perak who managed 307.68 points.

Earlier, Rashid/Pardika won the silver in the men’s 3m synchronised springboard when they collected 353.85 points.

The gold medallists in this event were Fakri and Chew who collected 357.96 points while Adzhar Imran Rusli and Muhammad Syafiq of Negeri Sembilan finished third with 298.71 points.

Sarawak also won two more gold and one silver in archery, a silver in tenpin bowling and as at 7pm yesterday, Sarawak had 10 gold, 14 silvers and 8 bronzes to maintain fourth in the medals table standings.

Kuala Lumpur (Federal Territory) took over as the new leaders with 13 gold, eight silver and nine bronze while hosts Melaka had 12 gold, eight silver and seven bronze medals.

Third were Selangor who collected 10 gold, eight silver and 11 bronze.

Diving: Perfect Start For Ling Kar

Kam Ling Kar (front) and Cheong Jun Hoong performing in the 10-metre platform routine yesterday.

KAM Ling Kar's mission of sweeping four diving gold medals got off to a perfect start when she helped Perak to two gold in women's synchronised diving at Hang Jebat Sports Complex Aquatic Centre yesterday.
Ling Kar, 15, won the 3-metre springboard with Jasmine Lai when they scored 252.36 points for a runaway victory as second placed Ng Zheng Ni-Adeline Chin of Selangor registered 216.48 while Nur Dhabita Sabri-Joey Loh of Federal Territories were third with 216.21.

In the 10-metre platform, Ling Kar combined with Sea Games diver Cheong Jun Hoong to score gold with 283.35, leaving second placed Loke Shin Hui-Teoh Wen Zhing of Penang far behind at 219.51 and third placed Dhabita-Joey at 215.85.

Ling Kar, bronze medallist in last year's Asian Junior Championships in Tokyo, expects Jasmine to provide the stiffest competition in both the 3-metre springboard and 10-metre platform but she is looking forward to achieving the feat.

"My target is to go for four gold and the synchronised events were easy as my partners are very strong. My teammate Jasmine will provide the biggest challenge in the individual events," said Ling Kar, who won only a silver medal in the Games two years ago.

"My favourite event is the 10-metre platform and I'm lucky as Jun Hoong will only be focusing on the one-metre springboard.

"It has been very close between me and Jasmine but I hope that I can do better than her this time."

Ling Kar took up the sport at seven and trained for six years under China coach Zhou Xiyang while attached at Ave Maria Convent in Ipoh.

Since moving to Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) in 2008, she has shown a marked improvement and her next target is to compete in the Sea Games in Indonesia next year.

Ahmad Fakhri Khairuddin-Chew Yi Wei of Selangor and Abdul Rashid Muhamad-Pardika Indoma of Sarawak shared the spoils after being involved in a keen tussle in the men's 3-metre springbord and 10-metre platform.

Fakhri-Yi Wei won the 3-metre srpingboard with 357.96 as Rashid-Pardika settled for silver with 353.85 while Adzhar Imran Rusli-Muhammad Syafiq of Negri Sembilan secured bronze with 298.71.

Rashid-Pardika bounced back in style in the 10m-platform with a 338.13 score to push Fakhri-Yi Wei to second spot (308.58) while Perak's Muhd Syafiq Puteh-Adrian Chan finished third (307.68).

Aquatic: Awesome Lai Kwan!

Sabah’s Chui Lai Kwan rewrote her national record twice to win the women’s 50m breaststroke at Hang Jebat Aquatic Centre yesterday.

CHUI Lai Kwan was in awesome form, rewriting her national record twice to win the women's 50m breaststroke at the Hang Jebat Aquatic Centre yesterday.
Lai Kwan shattered the national record of 30.77s in the heats by registering a 30.62 and improving further in the final when she clocked 30.39s for Sabah's first gold in the pool.

Chan Kah Yan of Kuala Lumpur finished second, clocking 31.08 while Loo Hei Di of Selangor finished third with 32.24. Lai Kwan led from the start while her main rival Cheng Karmen of Perak could only manage sixth place with 32.53.

The 20-year-old, who hails from Sandakan like former Asian Games champion Lim Keng Liat, said she was disappointed not to dip below 30 seconds, after breaking the national mark in the heats. "I felt very good after the heats and my target was to go below 30 seconds.

I am a little disappointed but I'm happy to have started with the national record," said Lai Kwan.
"It's a pity there will be no 50-metre backstroke in the Sea Games next year but I will be aiming to win the 100m freestyle gold.

"I won three gold medals in Terengganu and I hope to get four out of four this time.

"I haven't got the opportunity to train under Keng Liat and he has achieved so much.

I don't know whether I can emulate his feats but I will give it a try." Lai Kwan is down to compete in the 50m freestyle, an event which she won at the Korat Sea Games, and Sabah are also the team to beat in the 4x100m freestyle and 4x100m medley relays. Sabah secured their second gold through Lai Wei Li in the 400m individual medley with a time of 5:03.58.

Sarawak celebrated a double with Brian Derrick Lim and Erica Kong winning their respective events and setting new Games records.

Brian broke Linvern Lim's Games mark of 27.91 with a time of 27.81 in the 50m backstroke while fellow national swimmer Iam Jam Barr of KL clocked 27.92.

Johor's Tern Jian Han was third with 29.23.

Erika Kong was even more impressive as she beat Siow Yi Ting's eight-year old Games record of 1:13.54 when she clocked 1:12.45 in the women's 100m breaststroke.

KL's Christina Loh also bettered Yi Ting's mark with 1:12.89 to claim the silver while Boey Wen Teng of Pahang took bronze with 1:16.31. KL won three gold medals through Kevin Lim in the 200m freestyle, Melvin Chua in the 400m individual medley and Chan Kah Yan in the women's 200m freestyle. National swimmer Yap See Tuan produced Pahang's only gold when he won the 100m breaststroke.

Penang won the men's 3m springboard gold through Ooi Tze Liang with 397.00 points, while Muhhamd Fakhrul of KL was second (370.75) and Ahmad Amsyar Azman of Perlis (352.53) third.

Erika, Brian Bring Cheers To Sarawak

MELAKA: Two golds and two meet records in swimming.

FINE DOUBLE: Erika (left) and Lim show the gold medals they won at the Hang Jebat Aquatics Centre yesterday. • Photo by Davidson Kho

What a great boost for Sarawak yesterday who had only two gold medals to show after two days in Melaka.

Erika Kong and Brian Derrick Lim brought the golden cheer to the Sarawak contingent when they won in their respective events – women’s 100m breaststroke and men’s 50m backstroke at the Hang Jebat Aquatics Centre.

She clocked 01:12.45 to erase the old record time of 01:13.54 created by Siow Yi Ting in 2002 and beat her main rival Christina Loh of Federal Territory who also posted a meet record in 01:12.89. “This is a good achievement for Erika who has been able to beat her personal best time this year and I am very happy that she has won in the event,” said Erika’s father Anthony Kong.
He said it was not easy to achieve this feat as Erika is in her examination year this year. The 15-year-old Form Three student at Lodge International School will be sitting for her PMR.

“I have looked into the technical aspects of her swim and it has also worked according to my strategy and plan today,” said Kong.

For Erika’s next event which is the women’s 200m breaststroke, Kong is confident that she would do well again.

Meanwhile, Lim registered a new time of 27.81 in the men’s 50m backstroke to erase the old mark of 27.91 set by Linvern Lim of Sabah in 2004.

Ian James Barr of Federal Territory, who was the fastest in the heat, came in second with a time of 27.92 while Tern Jian Han of Johor was third in 28.57.

Sarawak also won a silver and a bronze from Tang Chong Hong in the men’s 100m breaststroke and Esther Yii in the women’s 400 IM medley respectively.

The state wushu exponents grabbed three out of seven gold medals at stake on the final day of competition at the Melaka Universiti Teknikal Malaysia yesterday.

They also struck three silvers and two bronzes to add to their total medal haul of four golds, eight silvers and three bronzes.

Karate-do also contributed one bronze through Nur Nadirah Abdul Gnani in the women’s kata individual.

In diving where only one event, the men’s 3m platform, was competed yesterday, national diver Ooi Tze Liang outclassed 11 other finalists with a total of 397 points to win the gold.

Sarawak’s representatives Pardika Indoma Pang and Abdul Rashid Muhamad could only manage fifth and seventh placings with 306.55 points and 266.40 points respectively.

In tennis, the men’s team event, Sarawak beat Perak 3-0 but lost 1-2 to Negeri Sembilan because Kelvin Lee retired with an ankle injury in the men’s singles.

It was no problem for the women’s team as they thumped Federal Territory 3-0 and were leading Johor 2-0 as at 9pm.

The state women cagers meanwhile suffered their first defeat to Selangor in a group B match that saw the latter winning 61-60.

Poor refereeing was to blame because the referee had blown his whistle for a foul that never was by a Sarawak player in the dying seconds of the game when Sarawak was leading 60-59.

As a result, Selangor capitalised to sink penalty shot to win by a single point.

In women’s hockey, Sarawak lost 0-2 to Pahang.

Sarawak are now placed fourth in the medals standing with seven gold, 12 silver and seven bronze medals.

Host Melaka are still the leaders with 12 gold, seven silver and five bronze medals while Federal Territory are second with eight gold, five silver and four bronze medals and Selangor third with eight gold, three silver and nine bronze medals.

SUKMA: Perak Dominasi Hari Kedua Acara Terjun

Penerjun Berirama Wanita Perak Menang Pingat Emas. Foto: Zid Omar

MELAKA, 12 Jun (Bernama) -- Penerjun wanita negeri Perak mendominasi hari kedua acara terjun temasya Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) ke-13 dengan meraih dua pingat emas di Pusat Akuatik, Kompleks Sukan Hang Jebat di sini, hari Sabtu.

Kedua-dua pingat emas Perak diraih menerusi acara 3m papan anjal seirama dan 10m platform seirama.

Dalam acara 3m papan anjal seirama wanita, gandingan Kam Ling Kar dan Jasmine Lai berjaya mengumpul 252.36 mata, mengatasi saingan terdekat mereka iaitu Ng Zheng Yi dan Adeline Chin dari Selangor yang hanya mampu berpuashati dengan 216.48 mata untuk pingat perak.

Pingat gangsa menjadi milik Nur Dhabitah Sabri dan Joey Loh Zhiayi dari Wilayah Persekutuan dengan 216.21 mata.

"Saya gembira dapat meraih pingat emas pada Sukma kali ini. Walaupun darjah kesukaran tidak tinggi tetapi ia satu pengalaman yang baik untuk saya," kata Kam.

Beliau kemudiannya bergandingan dengan penerjun negara, Cheong Jun Hoong dalam acara 10m platform seirama untuk pingat emas kedua Perak.

Selain acara 3m papan anjal seirama dan 10m platform seirama wanita, Kam turut mengambil bahagian dalam acara 3m papan anjal dan 10m platform individu.

Sementara itu, gandingan Ahmad Fakhri Khairudin dan Chew Yi Wei menyumbang pingat emas pertama buat Selangor dalam acara terjun 3m papan anjal seirama lelaki pada Sukma Melaka kali ini.

Gandingan Ahmad Fakhri dan Yi Wei berjaya mengumpul 357.96 mata untuk pingat emas, manakala Abdul Rashid Muhamad dan Pardika Indoma dari Sarawak mendapat pingat perak dengan mengumpul 353.85 mata.

Gangsa menjadi milik Adzhar Imran Rusli dan Muhammad Syafiq Darul Amin dari Negeri Sembilan dengan 298.71 mata.

Sarawak turut meraih emas pertama mereka melalui gandingan Abdul Rashid dan Pardika Indoma dalam acara 10m platform seirama lelaki.

-- BERNAMA

Tze Liang Raih Emas Pertama Acara Terjun

MELAKA: Penerjun Pulau Pinang, Ooi Tze Liang menjadi atlet pertama meraih pingat emas acara terjun temasya Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) ke-13 yang membuka tirainya di Pusat Akuatik Hang Jebat di sini hari ini.

"Saya berpuas hati dengan keputusan yang saya terima hari ini. Ia adalah kejayaan daripada hasil usaha saya selama ini.

"Latihan bersama-sama skuad terjun kebangsaan di Fujian, China juga banyak membantu meningkatkan prestasi saya," kata Tze Lian, 17, yang terpilih untuk mewakili negara di Sukan Olimpik Remaja di Singapura, Ogos depan.

Pada acara 3m papan anjal lelaki yang berlangsung hari ini, Tze Liang memperoleh 397.00 mata untuk meraih pingat emas.

Pingat perak menjadi milik Muhammad Fakhrul Izzat Md Zain dari Wilayah Persekutuan dengan 370.75 mata manakala gangsa menjadi milik Ahmad Amsyar Azman dari Perlis dengan 352.35 mata.

Kejayaan pingat gangsa Ahmad Amsyar secara tidak langsung menyumbang pingat pertama kepada kontinjen Perlis pada temasya kali ini.

Katanya, beliau tidak meletakkan sebarang sasaran pingat semasa menyertai temasya Sukma kali ini.

"Bagi saya, saya hanya perlu lakukan yang terbaik sahaja. Saya tidak sasarkan sebarang pingat emas," kata pelajar yang berasal dari George Town, Pulau Pinang itu.

Penyertaan pada temasya Sukma di Melaka ini adalah yang keempat bagi dirinya semenjak beliau berusia 10 tahun iaitu di Negeri Sembilan pada 2004.

Selain acara 3m papan anjal, Tze Liang juga akan mengambil bahagian dalam acara 1m papan anjal dan 10m platform individu. - BERNAMA

Two swimmers And Two Divers Selected For Youth Olympics

KUALA LUMPUR, Tuesday 8 June 2010 (Bernama) -- The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) has selected two swimmers and two divers to represent the country at the 2010 Youth Olympics in Singapore from 14 to 26 August.

ASUM secretary Edwin Chong said Ooi Tze Liang and Pandelela Rinong would compete in women's diving events while Kevin Lim and Lai Wei Li would spearhead the country's challenge in swimming events.

"Since this is the first time we are taking part in the Youth Olympics, it is difficult to set a target. However,the ASUM hopes are on FINA World Cup bronze medal winner Pandelela," Edwin told Bernama here today.

Pandelela created history at the FINA World Championships in Rome last year in the 10m platform synchronized event, partnering Leong Mun Yee to bag the bronze for Malaysia's first-ever medal in world championships.

Ooi won a silver medal in the 3m springboard synchronized diving at the Asian Age Group championships in Tokyo last year while Kevin was part of the quartet comprising Foo Jian Beng, Daniel Bego, Kevin Yeap, who won a bronze medal in the Laos SEA Games in December last year.

Lai is the winner of a gold medal in the women's 800m freestyle event at the South-East Asian Age Group Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil last year.

Edwin said all four were selected based on their performances and rankings in FINA.

MySinchew 2010-06-08

Ian Completes Clean Sweep Of Backstroke Events In Manila

PETALING JAYA: Fifteen-year-old Ian James Barr (pic) put himself in a prime position to challenge for a first-ever Sukma (Malaysia Games) swimming gold medal after completing a clean sweep of the backstroke disciplines on the last day of the South-East Asia (SEA) age-group championships in Manila yesterday.

The lanky youngster tapped on his reach advantage to touch home in 28.16 to win the boys’ Group 2 50m backstroke final to collect his fourth gold medal of the meet.

The six-footer had won the 100m and 200m backstroke races apart from claiming another gold in the 200m individual medley earlier. All three gold medals came with new record marks and his performances have marked him out as a strong contender when the Sukma swimming competition starts in Malacca next week.

Ian has yet to claim a Sukma medal but having improved by leaps and bounds since the last Sukma in Terengganu two years ago, he will surely be out to make an assault in Malacca.

Ian, who was sent to the Laos SEA Games for exposure last year, dipped under the one-minute barrier for the second time in winning the 100m backstroke three days ago and Kuala Lumpur can count on him to become their first men’s backstroke gold medallist in Sukma. Sarawak can also look to Erika Kong as one of their golden hopes in the pool after the 15-year-old claimed her second gold medal in the age-group meet in Manila.

Erika won the girls’ Group 2 200m breaststroke event in 2:37.30 to return to winning ways after losing the 100m race to fellow Malaysian Christina Loh the previous day.

Erika had started on a perfect note by setting a new meet record en route to winning the 50m breaststroke final on the first day of competition.

Malaysia also secured three silvers and two bronzes on the last day of competition.

The three silvers came from Tan Gin Yu (boys’ Group 2 200m butterfly), Tan Chong Heng (boys’ Group 3 200m breaststroke) and Kevin Lim (boys’ Group 1 200m butterfly).

The bronze medallists were Lai Wei Li (girls’ Group 1 800m freestyle) and Hii Siew Siew (girls’ Group 1 200m butterfly). Malaysia thus ended with a total medals tally of 10-7-3 in this year’s edition.

Perhaps disappointing in a way was the failure to win a single gold medal in Group 1 and it may be due to the swimmers holding back due to the proximity of Sukma next week.

Sabah swimming coach Lim Keng Liat, who is in charge of Wei Li, said the Sukma is the bigger priority for their swimmers.

“It is understandable as they are supposed to peak in Sukma and the SEA age-group is for them to warm up.

“Wei Li could have a chance to win the middle and long-distance races in Sukma but is only confined to two individual events because she came back with a SEA Games medal last year.

“She is thus making sure that she doesn’t slip up in the two individual events she is focusing on,” he said.

KL swimmer shatters SEA Record, Gains Revenge On Sukma Rival Erika

Sweet victory: Christina Loh made up for last Friday’s defeat to main rival Erika Kong by winning the 100m breastroke event in Manila Saturday.

PETALING JAYA: Fifteen-year-old Christina Loh hit back with a vengeance by wiping out a seven-year-old meet record to take her first gold medal in the South-East Asia (SEA) age-group swimming championships at the Trace College Aquatic Pool in Manila yesterday.

Christina, one of the golden hopes for Federal Territory in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Malacca next week, surged ahead of compatriot Erika Kong to win the girls’ Group 2 100m breaststroke race in 1:12.90.

It was a sweet victory for Christina, who erased Singaporean Sando Ho’s record of 1:13.87 set in 2003, to get the better of Sarawak-born Erika, who also dipped under the meet record in 1:13.27.

On Friday, Erika had pipped Christina to the gold medal in the 50m breaststroke race in a new record time.

Both the 15-year-olds have yet to win a Sukma gold medal and the stage is now set for them to slug it out in the breaststroke disciplines in Malacca.

Federal Territory can also look forward to another golden outing from 15-year-old Ian James Barr, who continued with his winning ways by grabbing his third gold medal in Manila.

The lanky Ian smashed another 18-year-old meet record en route to winning the boys’ Group 2 200m backstroke final in 2:09.12. His time erased the previous mark of 2:09.27 set by Nattapong Khetin of Thailand in 1992.

Ian had earlier bagged gold medals in the 200m individual medley and 100m backstroke on the opening day of competition.

Tang Chong Heng of Sarawak delivered the third gold medal for Malaysia on the second day of the meet by clocking 1:09.64 in the boys’ Group 3 100m breaststroke event.

Team manager Kelvin Chong said Malaysia could have hauled in more medals if not for several close finishes.

“We hope to get more medals on the final day of competition. Lai Wei Li is a strong gold medal prospects in the girls’ Group 1 800m freestyle. Erika and Christina will also be fighting for the girls’ Group 2 200m breaststroke gold medal.”