Aquatics sure of meeting target
The national aquatic team are hoping for a golden start today with Foo Jian Beng and Yap See Tuan given top billing as potential medallists in the men's 50-metre butterfly and 200m breaststroke at Palembang's Jakabaring Aquatic Centre.
Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary Edwin Chong said Jian Beng and See Tuan had the potential to upset the formbook in their respective events.
"Jian Beng's personal best of 25.60 seconds should be enough to win a medal but to guarantee a gold, he needs to do better. I believe the event, hosted for the first time in the Sea Games, will be an open affair.
"As for See Tuan, he needs to dip below 2:15sec to have a fighting chance of a medal. He has been shaping up well in training so I expect him to perform here."
Other Malaysian competitors today are Ian James Barr (men's 400m IM), Khoo Cai Lin (women's 200m freestyle) and the 4x100m medley team.
The swimming squad are expecting four gold medals from the pool through Siow Yi Ting and Christina Loh in the women's breaststroke disciplines, Jian Beng (freestyle) and Cai Lin (200m and 400m freestyle).
"We should be able to achieve our target and going beyond that will be a bonus. I am aware that we won nine gold in Laos two years ago but then we had Daniel Bego, who single-handedly won five titles. Besides that other nations have produced new swimmers, who are potential medallists," said Edwin.
Singapore's Tao Li, who won five titles in Laos, is expected to dominate proceedings as she is favoured to win nine events -- the 50m, 100m, 200m butterfly and backstroke events -- and in the 4x100 freestyle, 4x200 freestyle, and 4x100 individual medley.
Meanwhile, swimmer Chan Kar Yan is down with sinus due to the dusty condition at the athletes' village in Jakarbaring.
Team manager Mary Tan said Kar Yan was under medication but would not withdraw from the competition.
Six gold medals will be on offer in swimming today.
Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary Edwin Chong said Jian Beng and See Tuan had the potential to upset the formbook in their respective events.
"Jian Beng's personal best of 25.60 seconds should be enough to win a medal but to guarantee a gold, he needs to do better. I believe the event, hosted for the first time in the Sea Games, will be an open affair.
"As for See Tuan, he needs to dip below 2:15sec to have a fighting chance of a medal. He has been shaping up well in training so I expect him to perform here."
Other Malaysian competitors today are Ian James Barr (men's 400m IM), Khoo Cai Lin (women's 200m freestyle) and the 4x100m medley team.
The swimming squad are expecting four gold medals from the pool through Siow Yi Ting and Christina Loh in the women's breaststroke disciplines, Jian Beng (freestyle) and Cai Lin (200m and 400m freestyle).
"We should be able to achieve our target and going beyond that will be a bonus. I am aware that we won nine gold in Laos two years ago but then we had Daniel Bego, who single-handedly won five titles. Besides that other nations have produced new swimmers, who are potential medallists," said Edwin.
Singapore's Tao Li, who won five titles in Laos, is expected to dominate proceedings as she is favoured to win nine events -- the 50m, 100m, 200m butterfly and backstroke events -- and in the 4x100 freestyle, 4x200 freestyle, and 4x100 individual medley.
Meanwhile, swimmer Chan Kar Yan is down with sinus due to the dusty condition at the athletes' village in Jakarbaring.
Team manager Mary Tan said Kar Yan was under medication but would not withdraw from the competition.
Six gold medals will be on offer in swimming today.
Read more: SEA GAMES: Ready to rumble in the pool - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/sea-games-ready-to-rumble-in-the-pool-1.4750#ixzz1deRg1xDn
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