SWIMMING: Kevin's Olympic Dream Still Not Realised

KEVIN Yeap came agonisingly close to meeting the Olympic invitational time for the men's 400m freestyle event at the Malaysian Open Swimming Championships at the Bukit Jalil Aquatics complex yesterday.

Kevin broke the meet record with a time of three minutes 54.55 seconds to win the event ahead of second-placed Vernon Lee (4:00.15s) of Sarawak and Sri Lanka's Matthew Abeysinghe (4:04.15s).

The 22-year-old, who had set the meet record of 3:58.56s in the event last year, missed out on the Olympic invitational time of 3:54.13s.

Kevin said: "I am really happy to set a meet record here but a little disappointed in missing out on the (Olympic invitational) time".

"I was a little off in terms of strategy, I pushed too hard in the first 200m and suffered in the latter stages. I knew I had to do something towards the end but could not push myself any harder as my body was already hurting.

"I will have another chance to qualify for the event at the SEA championships next month."

Meanwhile, Siow Yi Ting won the women's 200m breaststroke in a meet record time of 2:34.18s. In second place was Singapore's Samantha Yeo who clocked 2:39.89s while national swimmer Christina Loh came in third on 2:38.52s.

Sabah's Marellyn Liew won Malaysia's third and final gold medal of the day in the women's 50m butterfly event in 28.33s, ahead of Selangor duo Yap Siew Hui (28.55s) and Annika Winsnes (28.66).

RESULTS (All Finals): 

Men -- 50m butterfly: 1 Glenn Victor Susanto (Ina) 24.58s, 2 Afshin Askari (Iran), Triady Fauzi (Ina) 25.09s.
100m backstroke: 1 Gede Sudartawa (Ina) 56.41s, 2 Heshan Unamboowe (Sri Lanka) 57.41s, 3 Ian James Barr (KL) 58.02s.
200m breaststroke: 1 Sandeep Sejwal (Ind) 2:16.16s (MR), 2 Yap See Tuan (Pah) 2:17.56s, 3 Idham Dasuki (Ina) 2:18.60s
400m fresstyle: 1 Kevin Yeap (Pk) 3:54.55s (MR), 2 Vernon Lee (Swk) 4:00.15s, 3 Matthew Abeysinghe (Sri Lanka) 4:04.10s

Women -- 

50m butterfly: 1 Marellyn Liew (Sab) 28.33s, 2 Yap Siew Hui (Sel) 28.55s, 3 Annika Winsnes (Sel) 28.66s.
100m backstroke: 1 Jasmine Tong (Aus) 1:05.63s, 2 Yessy Yosaputera (Ina) 1:06.60s, 3 Jyotsna Pansare (Ind) 1:08.26s.
200m breaststroke: 1 Siow Yi Ting (NS) 2:34.81s (MR), 2 Samantha Yeo (Sin) 2:36.52s, 3 Christina Loh (KL) 2:38.52s.
400m freestyle: 1 Sze Hang Yu (HK), 2 Khoo Cai Lin (Sel) 4:20.55s, 3 Raina Saumi Grahana (Ina ) 4:22.32s. By Fadhli Ishak

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