Guangzhou on her mind: Khoo Cai Lin defied the odds to win the 400m freestyle gold at the Laos SEA Games in 2009.
SWIMMER Khoo Cai Lin tends to make a splash towards the end of the year – as evident from her two previous memorable SEA Games outings.
And she is hoping to make an even bigger splash at the Asian Games swimming competition in Guangzhou.
It was at the Korat SEA Games in December of 2007 that Cai Lin first made a big breakthrough by setting new meet records en route to sweeping the 400m and 800m freestyle titles.
The odds were against her in Laos two years later with the Singaporeans in top form but Cai Lin swam the race of her life to slash almost eight seconds off her own Games record in winning the 400m freestyle.
That impressive time of 4:10.75 earned her a place on merit for the Asian Games, beating the bronze-medal winning effort of 4:14.95 set at the last Asiad in Doha.
With multiple SEA Games gold medallist Siow Yi Ting skipping the Asian Games, expectations are high for Cai Lin to give Malaysia a big lift in the pool.
In Asian Games swimming, no Malaysian woman has managed to make the top eight final, let alone win a medal since Nurul Huda Abdullah won two silver and two bronze medals in Seoul in 1986.
The competition will no doubt be world class with the Chinese, South Koreans and Japanese swimmers in the spotlight but Cai Lin has promised to give her best to make a big breakthrough in her maiden Asian Games appearance.
“I’m compering in the 400m and 800m freestyles at the Asian Games aside from the freestyle relays,” said Cai Lin, who will turn 22 on Christmas Day.
“I did not do well at the Commonwealth Games in India last month as I was not feeling well before the start of the competition.
“It was just unfortunate but I have put it behind me and I now aim to prepare well for the Asian Games.
“I have no big injury problems and I will be happy to get into the top eight final.
“If I am in the final, it will be a good indication of my form and, hopefully, things turn out well.”
Cai Lin only entered for the 400m individual medley at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games but failed to advance to the top 16 semi-finals.
Cai Lin is not the only hope as Chui Lai Kwan may spring a surprise as well.
Lai Kwan made a big breakthrough when she set a new national record to qualify for the 50m freestyle final, becoming the first Malaysian woman swimmer to do so at a Commonwealth Games.
A place in the final in Guangzhou beckons for the Sandakan-born swimmer if she can dip below her personal best.
Things are not so great with the men, though.
At the Doha Asian Games four years ago, Daniel Bego made his debut while Alex Lim Keng Liat swam his last competitive race for the country.
Now, four years on, it is still uncertain whether Daniel can follow in the footsteps of Keng Liat as a medal contributor at the Asian Games level.
Daniel only started training after completing his A-level exams and he did not have a good outing in India.
The Asian Games will be a better yardstick for Daniel, who is expected to concentrate on the butterfly disciplines. But it will be a very tough proposition, with Olympic and World Championships medallists in the fray.
SWIMMER Khoo Cai Lin tends to make a splash towards the end of the year – as evident from her two previous memorable SEA Games outings.
And she is hoping to make an even bigger splash at the Asian Games swimming competition in Guangzhou.
It was at the Korat SEA Games in December of 2007 that Cai Lin first made a big breakthrough by setting new meet records en route to sweeping the 400m and 800m freestyle titles.
The odds were against her in Laos two years later with the Singaporeans in top form but Cai Lin swam the race of her life to slash almost eight seconds off her own Games record in winning the 400m freestyle.
That impressive time of 4:10.75 earned her a place on merit for the Asian Games, beating the bronze-medal winning effort of 4:14.95 set at the last Asiad in Doha.
With multiple SEA Games gold medallist Siow Yi Ting skipping the Asian Games, expectations are high for Cai Lin to give Malaysia a big lift in the pool.
In Asian Games swimming, no Malaysian woman has managed to make the top eight final, let alone win a medal since Nurul Huda Abdullah won two silver and two bronze medals in Seoul in 1986.
The competition will no doubt be world class with the Chinese, South Koreans and Japanese swimmers in the spotlight but Cai Lin has promised to give her best to make a big breakthrough in her maiden Asian Games appearance.
“I’m compering in the 400m and 800m freestyles at the Asian Games aside from the freestyle relays,” said Cai Lin, who will turn 22 on Christmas Day.
“I did not do well at the Commonwealth Games in India last month as I was not feeling well before the start of the competition.
“It was just unfortunate but I have put it behind me and I now aim to prepare well for the Asian Games.
“I have no big injury problems and I will be happy to get into the top eight final.
“If I am in the final, it will be a good indication of my form and, hopefully, things turn out well.”
Cai Lin only entered for the 400m individual medley at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games but failed to advance to the top 16 semi-finals.
Cai Lin is not the only hope as Chui Lai Kwan may spring a surprise as well.
Lai Kwan made a big breakthrough when she set a new national record to qualify for the 50m freestyle final, becoming the first Malaysian woman swimmer to do so at a Commonwealth Games.
A place in the final in Guangzhou beckons for the Sandakan-born swimmer if she can dip below her personal best.
Things are not so great with the men, though.
At the Doha Asian Games four years ago, Daniel Bego made his debut while Alex Lim Keng Liat swam his last competitive race for the country.
Now, four years on, it is still uncertain whether Daniel can follow in the footsteps of Keng Liat as a medal contributor at the Asian Games level.
Daniel only started training after completing his A-level exams and he did not have a good outing in India.
The Asian Games will be a better yardstick for Daniel, who is expected to concentrate on the butterfly disciplines. But it will be a very tough proposition, with Olympic and World Championships medallists in the fray.
No comments:
Post a Comment