SWIMMING: Yi Ting Edges Closer

OLYMPICS: Veteran achieves 200m qualifying standard time

Siow Yi Ting clocked 2:31.23 secs.

SIOW Yi Ting put one foot on the plane to the London Olympics after achieving the qualifying standard time for the women's 200 metre breaststroke at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The 26-year-old, a three-time Olympian, clocked 2 mins 31.23 secs to dip under the London Games invitation time of 2:32.03.

Yi Ting, representing Negri Sembilan, however, could have recorded a better time if there were other competitors in the girls' 18-and-above breaststroke discipline yesterday.

She had also met the Olympic invitation time en route to winning the 100m breaststroke title at last year's Indonesia Sea Games.

The Fine Arts graduate, however, needs to post better times in both events to guarantee her spot for the London Games.

Yi Ting returned to the pool last August after taking a year-long break to concentrate on her studies in the United States, and since returning, she has been consistently clocking better times in the breaststroke.

"I managed to shed two seconds off my Sea Games winning time in the 200m breaststroke and this is a huge progress. I knew I would make the Olympic invitation time today (yesterday) despite swimming alone," said Yi Ting.

"I've been training hard to get back into form since taking a long break. I am just taking it easy in the event as my focus is on next month's Malaysian Open, where I hope to clock the 'A' Olympic time in the 100m and 200m breaststroke disciplines."

Yi Ting is the oldest swimmer in the national team but she has not lost her hunger to achieve more in the sport before she retires.

"I am posting good times despite being the oldest national swimmer but at my age, it is tough to maintain my form as I need to put more effort to remain the best. I do not want to concentrate on too many disciplines as I am not young anymore," she said.

Yi Ting will also compete in the 50m and 100m breaststroke in the age-group meet.

Daniel Bego returned to the pool for the first time since last April but the Sarawakian failed to spark in the men's 100m freestyle. The 23-year-old clocked 52.97s to finish second behind Foo Jian Beng, who recorded 51.98.

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