Cai Lin Dips Under Olympic Invitation Time

KUALA LUMPUR: Swimmer Khoo Cai Lin put one foot on the plane to the London Olympics next year after achieving the qualifying standard for the women’s 800m freestyle on the final day of the Malaysian Open championships at National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Cai Lin, representing Selangor, successfully held off a strong challenge from Hong Kong’s Natasha Tang to clock 8:49.28 to dip under the London Olympic invitation time of 8:51.82.

Natasha lost steam in the final moments to settle for silver in 8:52.64 while Vietnam’s Le Thi My Thao took the bronze in 9:17.26.

Cai Lin did not better her previous Malaysian Open meet record of 8:48.53 set last year, which made her the first Malaysian to win a place in the world championships in Shanghai in July.

But Cai Lin, who also won the 400m freestyle race on Saturday, was pleased to have made a big step towards a second consecutive Olympic appearance early in the qualifying campaign. She is also the only Malaysian swimmer to manage to do so at the home Open. The time standards for swimming at the London Olympics comprise Olympic qualifying time and Olympic invitation time.

Any swimmer who meets the much faster Olympic qualifying time is an automatic entry for the event at the Games.

A swimmer reaching Olympic invitation time standard is eligible for entry depending on the rankings and a country can only have one representative in each event.

The international federation for aquatics, FINA, also can give wildcard entries to one male and one female competitor if the country fails to have any qualifier.

“I’m happy to swim a personal best time for the 800m freestyle this year. It was only the first competitive race for me and I would have confirmed my place for the Olympics under the previous system,” said Cai Lin.

“But I definitely need to swim a better time before the Olympic qualifying period ends sometime in June next year.

“I still have the world championships in July and the Indonesia SEA Games at the end of the year. These are the major meets for me to post much better times to improve on my rankings.”

Kevin Yeap was the other Malaysian swimmer to make the top of the podium yesterday, winning the men’s 1,500m freestyle in 15:52.84 to better his previous meet record of 15:55.64 set last year.

Vernon Lee of Sarawak took silver in 16:04.62 ahead of Vietnam’s Pham Thanh Nguyen, who finished in 16:06.69.

Foo Jian Beng set a new national record of 23.42 in finishing fourth in the men’s 50m freestyle. His previous national record of 23.45 was set at the 2008 Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Kuala Terengganu.

India’s Khade Virdhawal won the event in 23.01, eclipsing his own meet record of 23.03 set three years ago.

Three Male Swimmers Set New Meet Records

KUALA LUMPUR: It was a trio of male swimmers Yap See Tuan, Kevin Yeap and Ben Proud who made big splashes by setting new meet records in taking victories on the third day of the Malaysian Open championships at National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

After setting a new national record in the men’s 50m breaststroke on Friday, See Tuan continued with the strong momentum by coming from behind to deny Uzbekistan’s Dmitriy Shvetsor the gold medal in the 200m breaststroke final.See Tuan, representing Pahang, pulled ahead in the last 15m to finish in 2:17.27, breaking the previous record of 2:18.23 set by India’s Sandeep Sejwal in 2008.

Hard work: Kevin Yeap on his way to winning the men’s 400m freestyle gold medal in the Malaysian Open in Kuala Lumpur sATURday. — SHAARI CHEMAT / The Star
Shvetsor clocked 2:18.38 for the silver ahead of Marcus Yuen of Hong Kong, who posted 2:25.68.
Despite clinching his first Malaysian Open title, See Tuan expressed mixed feelings after missing out on making the cut for the world championships in Shanghai in July. The qualifying time is 2:16.99.

“I have been training hard for two months for it and was confident of winning this race in first place. I did well to break the meet record but missed out on a place in the world championships by about 0.30 seconds,” said the 19-year-old.
See Tuan’s latest performance is certainly encouraging as he is now closing in fast on the national record of 2:15.62 held by Elvin Chia since 1999.

It was also a good show from Perak-born Kevin, who made the top of the podium in the men’s 400m freestyle.

Kevin smashed Daniel Bego’s meet record of 3:58.73 as he broke the four-minute barrier for the first time in 3:58.56.

Vietnam’s Pham Thanh was second in 3:59.38 while Vernon Lee of Sarawak took third place in 4:01.36.

“I’m happy to swim a personal best time today. I was more relaxed in the final compared to the morning heats and was able to stay under record pace,” said Kevin, who has already qualified for the world meet in the men’s 800m freestyle.

Selangor’s Ben also came within a whisker of breaking Daniel’s national record of 24.38 in the men’s 50m butterfly final as he stunned favourite Khade Virdhawal of India to win in 24.39.

Ben managed to erase the Malaysian Open record of 24.91 set by Khade in 2008 as the Indian settled for silver in 24.90.

Laos SEA Games gold medallist Khoo Cai Lin was the fourth Malaysian swimmer to take gold as she won her pet 400m freestyle event in 4:21.06. But the effort was outside the meet record of 4:19.48 set by Zheng Jing of China in 2002.

RESULTS
MEN
50m butterfly: 1. Ben Proud (Sel) 24.39 – meet rec, 2. Khade Virdhawal (Ind) 24.90, 3. Hoang Quy Phuoc (Vie) 25.67.

100m backstroke: 1. Daniil Bukin (Uzb) 57.37, 2. Chung Lai Yeung (Hkg) 57.75, 3. Ian James Barr (Kul) 57.91.

200m breaststroke: 1. Yap See Tuan (Pah) 2:17.27 – meet rec, 2. Dmitriy Shvetsor (Uzb) 2:18.38, 3. Marcus Yuen (Hkg) 2:25.68.

400m freestyle: 1. Kevin Yeap (Prk) 3:58.56 – meet rec, 2. Pham Thanh (Vie) 3:59.38, 3. Vernon Lee (Swk) 4:01.36.

4x100m freestyle: 1. Hong Kong 3:29.39 – meet rec, 2. India 3:34.35, 3. Selangor 3:35.30

WOMEN
50m butterfly: 1. Sze Hang Yu (Hkg) 27.20 – meet rec, 2. Marellyn Liew (Sab) 27.60, 3. Chan Kin Lok (Hkg) 28.38.

100m backstroke: 1. Claudia Lau (Hkg) 1:02.92 – meet rec, 2. Chan Kah Yan (Kul) 1:04.52, 3. Andrea Wan (Hkg) 1:05.24.

200m breaststroke: 1. Rainbow Ip (Hkg) 2:34.95 – meet rec, 2. Samantha Yeo (Sin) 2:38.05, 3. Erika Kong (Swk) 2:39.85.

400m freestyle: 1. Khoo Cai Lin (Sel) 4:21.06, 2. Natasha Tang (Hkg) 4:22.98, 3. Cheng Yuen Yue (Hkg) 4:30.90.

4x100m freestyle: 1. Hong Kong 3:55.31 – meet rec, 2. Singapore 4:02.27, 3. Selangor 4:02.52.

Kah Yan Fails To Win Gold But Manages To Qualify For World Meet

KUALA LUMPUR: Chan Kah Yan did not win the gold in the Malaysian Open swimming championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday, but she was still one happy swimmer after qualifying on merit for the world championships in Shanghai in July.

The 19-year-old Kuala Lumpur-born lass smashed her own national record twice and her effort in the women’s 50m backstroke final en route to taking silver earned her a first-ever world championship appearance.

Kah Yan was the second fastest qualifier for the final after clocking 29.87 in the morning heats to erase her own national record of 30.15 at the Guangzhou Asian Games last November.

She improved on it with a 29.70 swim in the final but still had to settle for second place behind Claudia

Top three: Claudia Lau (centre), the winner of the Malaysian Open 50m backstroke, posing with Chan Kah Yan (left, second place) and Chung Yan Ting (third place) at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

Lau of Hong Kong, who posted a winning time of 29.45.

Both beat the meet record of 29.72 held by Shana Lim of Singapore and the world meet qualifying mark of 29.80.

Kah Yan, who bagged seven gold medals at the Malacca Sukma last year to emerge as the Best Sportswoman of the Games, said it was a goal of hers to make the cut for the world meet.

“The 50m backstroke is my best chance to make the cut for the world championships as I’m about three to fours seconds off in the other events.

“It was still unexpected as I thought I would not get it after coming in second behind the Hong Kong swimmer,” said Kah Yan.

Kuala Lumpur swimmer Christina Loh bagged her second gold in the championships in the women’s 50m breaststroke but missed the cut for the world meet.

Christina erased the meet record of 33.65 set by top Malaysian breaststroker Siow Yi Ting back in 2007 in the morning heats with a time of 32.45.

But she could not keep the momentum in the final, clocking 32.48 but it was still good enough to give her the gold ahead of Hong Kong’s Yvette Kong (33.25) and Fiona Man (33.45). The world meet qualifying mark for the event is 32.31, which is also the national record Christina set at the national age-group swimming championships in Malacca in March.

However, the national age-group meet was not recognised as a FINA-sanctioned event for the world meet.

There was also joy for Malaysia in the men’s 200m individual medley with Kuala Lumpur’s Ian James Barr bettering the meet record en route to the gold.

The 16-year-old clocked 2:07.85 to smash the previous meet record of 2:08.33 set by India’s Rehan Poncha in 2008.

Ian finished just outside his own national record of 2:07.22. He also missed the world championship qualifying mark of 2:04.39.

Results all finals
Men
50m backstroke: 1. Chung Lai Yeung (Hkg) 26.39, 2. Daniil Bukin (Uzb) 26.60, 3. Ian James Barr (Kul) 27.06.
50m breaststroke: 1. Wong Chun Yan (Hkg) 28.50, 2. Yap See Tuan (Pah) 29.46, 3. Li Long Yin (Hkg) 30.24.
200m freestyle: 1. Khade Virdhawal (Ind) 1:52.19, 2. Pham Thanh Nguyen (Vie) 1:52.21, 3. Ng Chun Nam (Hkg) 1:53.24.
200m individual medley: 1. Ian James Barr (Kul) 2:07.85 (meet rec), 2. Vo Thai Nguyen (Vie) 2:10.17, 3. Kong Chun Yin (Hkg) 2:10.38.
4x200m freestyle: 1. Hong Kong 7:50.56 (meet rec), 2. India 8:07.57, 3. Selangor 8:09.04.

Women
50m backstroke: 1. Claudia Lau (Hkg) 29.45 (meet rec), 2. Chan Kah Yan (Kul) 29.70, 3. Chung Yan Ting (Hkg) 29.87.
50m breaststroke: 1. Christina Loh (Kul) 32.48, 2. Yvette Kong (Hkg) 33.25, 3. Fiona Man (Hkg) 33.45.
200m freestyle: 1. Sze Hang Yu (Hkg) 2:00.29, 2. Khoo Cai Lin (Sel) 2:05.02, 3. Cheng Hei Tung (Hkg) 2:07.39.
200m individual medley: 1. Chan Kin Lok (Hkg) 2:21.30 (meet rec), 2. Wong Yee Ching (Hkg) 2:22.21, 3. Erika Kong (Swk) 2:23.87.
4x200m freestyle: 1. Hong Kong 8:33.01 (meet rec), 2. Sabah 9:03.84, 3. Selangor 9:08.61.

54th MILO-PRAM Malaysia Open Swimming Championship 2011

ATHLETES:

1. Chi Chia Kian

2. Vernon Lee

3. Tern Jian Han

4. Evon Heng Kor Jin

5. Boey Wen Teng

Cai Lin Eyes Olympic Outing Despite Huge Allowance Cut

PETALING JAYA: Like many athletes not under the Road to London programme, swimmer Khoo Cai Lin is coming to terms with a shrinking allowance as the National Sports Council (NSC) went through a 30% budget cut this year.

The SEA Games gold medallist had her monthly allowance slashed by half from March after not being paid for the first two months of the year.

But as demoralising as it is, the top national female swimmer in middle and long distance freestyle has no intention of giving up the sport she loves and is keen to earn another appearance in the Olympics.

Reliable athlete: Khoo Cai Lin delivered three gold medals from two previous SEA Games campaigns.

The road to the London Olympics next year is much tougher compared to Beijing but Cai Lin has a chance to gauge her form when she competes in the Malaysian Open, which begins today at the National Aquatics Centre in Bukit Jalil.

The Malaysian Open this year has been accepted by FINA as an Olympic and world championship qualifying meet but the local swimmers will also be out to achieve the early objective of making the SEA Games squad on merit. The 22-year-old Cai Lin, who has delivered three gold medals from two previous SEA Games campaigns, may be naturally disheartened by the cut but had to accept it.

“There is nothing we can do but to make adjustments here and there. I still love what I’m doing and I want to continue as long as I feel I’m able to swim competitively,” she said.

“I want to try to beat the Olympic qualifying time for the London Games next year in the 400m freestyle to get an automatic entry.

“I feel I have a better chance to qualify as my personal best in the 400m freestyle (4:10.75) is only about one second off compared to the 800m freestyle, which is about 12 seconds off.

“But I have to give myself time to swim that kind of time. There is still time as the Malaysian Open is my first really competitive race for the year.

“But my aim this weekend will be to beat the qualifying mark again for the world championships in Shanghai in July.”

The time standards for swimming at the London Olympics consist of the “Olympic qualifying time” and the “Olympic invitation time”.

Any swimmer who meets the much faster “Olympic qualifying time” will be entered automatically for the event at the Games.

A swimmer reaching the “Olympic invitation time” standard will be eligible for entry but it will depend on the rankings and the country can only have one representative in each event.

For an example on what Cai Lin needs to achieve, the main qualifying time for the women’s 400m freestyle is 4:09.35 while the provisional qualifying time, depending on the rankings, is 4:18.07.

The five-gold medallist at the 2009 Laos SEA Games, Daniel Bego, is the notable name missing from the Malaysian Open field this year. He has been ruled out for the rest of the year after undergoing a shoulder operation recently. The long recovery process also puts him out of the world championships and SEA Games.

Besides the top local swimmers, the Malaysian Open also features competitors from Singapore, Uzbekistan, India, Vietnam and Hong Kong.