No Vintage Yi Ting But She Still Strikes Gold

PALEMBANG: Two women’s breaststroke titles in the bag and one more to go for a clean sweep in Palembang.

Swimmer Siow Yi Ting was not at her vintage best but she mustered enough power in her strokes to deliver the fourth gold medal for Malaysia at the Jakabaring Aquatic Centre last night.

Look what I’ve got: Malaysia’s Siow Yi Ting posing with her gold after winning the women’s 100m breaststroke yesterday.

Yi Ting, who is competing for the first time after a two-year lay-off to complete her studies in the United States, splashed to victory in 2:33.67 for her second gold in as many days.

Yi Ting, who won the 100m breaststoke on Tuesday, took the lead yesterday and never looked back as her closest rival, Salubluek Chavuninooch of Thailand, had to settle for the silver in 2:35.53.

Samantha Yeo of Singapore took the bronze in 2:37.12 while the second Malaysian finalist Christina Loh was sixth in 2:39.65.

Yi Ting’s win meant the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) met their target of four gold medals in swimming for the Indonesia Games.

“I’m not happy with this time as I did under 2:30 in Laos. But since it is so long since I competed, I’m okay with it.

“I hope I win another gold tomorrow (today),” she said.

Yi Ting won the discipline in Laos two years ago but there is a chance for Malaysia to achieve a clean sweep in the breaststroke events with the 50m distance contested for the first time in the Games.

But it is not Yi Ting who will start as favourite but her younger team-mate Christina.

The 16-year-old Christina lines up with the fastest time in the region, having clocked 32.29 at the World Championships in Shanghai in July.

Christina has consistently dipped under the 33-second barrier and will be priming for her first SEA Games gold medal after settling for silver behind Yi Ting in the 100m breaststroke on Tuesday.

And it could be a smashing final day of competition for Malaysia as Yi Ting and Kevin Yeap will also be competing for the 200m individual medley and 1,500m freestyle titles.

Yi Ting is the defending champion in the 200m individual medley while Kevin is brimming with confidence after splashing to his first SEA Games gold medal in the 400m freestyle on Tuesday.

The men’s 4x200m freestyle relay quartet of Foo Jian Beng, Vernon Lee, Kevin and Lim Ching Hwang sprang a surprise by taking silver in 7:35.99.