Hopes High On Cai Lin To give Malaysia Big Lift In The Pool

Guangzhou on her mind: Khoo Cai Lin defied the odds to win the 400m freestyle gold at the Laos SEA Games in 2009.


SWIMMER Khoo Cai Lin tends to make a splash towards the end of the year – as evident from her two previous memorable SEA Games outings.

And she is hoping to make an even bigger splash at the Asian Games swimming competition in Guangzhou.

It was at the Korat SEA Games in December of 2007 that Cai Lin first made a big breakthrough by setting new meet records en route to sweeping the 400m and 800m freestyle titles.

The odds were against her in Laos two years later with the Singaporeans in top form but Cai Lin swam the race of her life to slash almost eight seconds off her own Games record in winning the 400m freestyle.

That impressive time of 4:10.75 earned her a place on merit for the Asian Games, beating the bronze-medal winning effort of 4:14.95 set at the last Asiad in Doha.

With multiple SEA Games gold medallist Siow Yi Ting skipping the Asian Games, expectations are high for Cai Lin to give Malaysia a big lift in the pool.

In Asian Games swimming, no Malaysian woman has managed to make the top eight final, let alone win a medal since Nurul Huda Abdullah won two silver and two bronze medals in Seoul in 1986.

The competition will no doubt be world class with the Chinese, South Koreans and Japanese swimmers in the spotlight but Cai Lin has promised to give her best to make a big breakthrough in her maiden Asian Games appearance.

“I’m compering in the 400m and 800m freestyles at the Asian Games aside from the freestyle relays,” said Cai Lin, who will turn 22 on Christmas Day.

“I did not do well at the Commonwealth Games in India last month as I was not feeling well before the start of the competition.

“It was just unfortunate but I have put it behind me and I now aim to prepare well for the Asian Games.

“I have no big injury problems and I will be happy to get into the top eight final.

“If I am in the final, it will be a good indication of my form and, hopefully, things turn out well.”

Cai Lin only entered for the 400m individual medley at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games but failed to advance to the top 16 semi-finals.

Cai Lin is not the only hope as Chui Lai Kwan may spring a surprise as well.

Lai Kwan made a big breakthrough when she set a new national record to qualify for the 50m freestyle final, becoming the first Malaysian woman swimmer to do so at a Commonwealth Games.

A place in the final in Guangzhou beckons for the Sandakan-born swimmer if she can dip below her personal best.

Things are not so great with the men, though.

At the Doha Asian Games four years ago, Daniel Bego made his debut while Alex Lim Keng Liat swam his last competitive race for the country.

Now, four years on, it is still uncertain whether Daniel can follow in the footsteps of Keng Liat as a medal contributor at the Asian Games level.

Daniel only started training after completing his A-level exams and he did not have a good outing in India.

The Asian Games will be a better yardstick for Daniel, who is expected to concentrate on the butterfly disciplines. But it will be a very tough proposition, with Olympic and World Championships medallists in the fray.

Commonwealth Games / Swimming: Swimmers Return With Loads Of Experience

ONE final appearance, five national records and a qualifier for the World Championships is how the Commonwealth Games statistics read for the national swimming squad.

There were no medals but for national coach Paul Birmingham, New Delhi can be deemed a success considering the difficulties the squad faced throughout the competition. "I admit that I expected faster times from certain swimmers but I have to say that this was easily the toughest competition many of them have experienced," said Birmingham yesterday.

He was not only talking about the world class opposition that Australia, England and South Africa offered but also the challenge the swimmers faced with the schedule and health.

"It was 16-hour days throughout the competition as we had to get up at 5am and travel two hours to the venue and we had to repeat this in the evenings and this took a toll on the swimmers. "There were also health issues as some had the flu while others went down with food poisoning. This was experienced by almost all the swimming teams and I can confidently say that for the others, this was also a tough meet."

But there was a silver lining and Birmingham said the five national records were satisfying considering the challenge the swimmers faced. "Chui Lai Kwan also qualified for the World Championships and that was a job well done." Lai Kwan also improved the national 50m freestyle record to 26.03s and was the only Malaysian to make an individual final.

The others who set new national marks were Christina Loh in the women's 50m breaststroke (33.39), Chan Kah Yan (50m backstroke -- 30.19), Yap See Tuan (men's 50m breaststroke -- 29.78) and Ian James Barr (200m IM -- 2:07.22). One swimmer who didn't enjoy the New Delhi experience was Daniel Bego and Birmingham said this was expected considering that he only had 12 weeks of training coming into the Games. "Many have questioned why Daniel took six months off (to concentrate on his studies) but this is a break he needed. We have to remember that he has been training non-stop for years and he simply needed a break.

"We want him for the London Olympics in 2012 and he will need six months of hardwork to get back his form." Hardwork is also something Birmingham expects from those who didn't do as well as expected. "The swimmers (who didn't perform) have been told and it is now up to them to start working, especially if they are serious about their careers." It will basically be the same squad for the Asian Games and Birmingham admitted that medals will be out of reach. "Japan and China are going to dominate the top four positions in most of the events and what I can hope for from my swimmers are new national records."

Swimmers Gearing Up For Asiad Too In New Delhi

THE divers look set to make a bigger splash in New Delhi this time and even a historic gold is within reach if world championships bronze medallists Pandelela Rinong and Leong Mun Yee rise to the occasion in the 10m platform synchronised event.

But it will be a quieter Games for the swimmers.

Even the likes of multiple SEA Games gold medallist Daniel Bego and Khoo Cai Lin, who are the only ones to beat the qualifying times, will find it very difficult to keep pace in a world-class competition.

The swimming competition has not seen a massive withdrawal of the big names unlike in athletics.

The pool at the Dr S.P. Murkhejee Stadium will be aplenty with Olympians and world record holders.

The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary, Edwin Chong, said that for swimmers like Daniel and Cai Lin, the Commonwealth Games competitions were part of a run-up to the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.

“We can look at Daniel and Cai Lin to qualify for the finals in their events. “That will already be a big achievement for them,” he said.

“Daniel, for example, came back to train only in the second half of the year because he was preparing for the A-level exams and it would be too much to put a target to deliver.

“With two big Games being so close to each other, we have no choice but to focus on one for the swimmers to peak.”

Malaysia enjoyed their best achievement in swimming in the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester through Alex Lim Keng Liat, who delivered a silver in the 50m backstroke and a bronze in the 100m backstroke.

Swimming: Cai Lin Checks In For World Meet

Arnaz M. Khairul arnaz@nstp.com.my

KHOO CAI LIN became the first Malaysian to qualify for the next World Championships after winning the women's 800m freestyle in record time at the Malaysian Open Swimming Championships in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The Selangor swimmer clocked eight minute 49.04 seconds to better the previous meet record of 8:48.53s set in 2002 by China's Zheng Jing and qualified on merit for next year's World Championships in Shanghai. The win meant Cai Lin closed accounts in the Malaysian Open with a perfect sweep of distance freestyle events, having earlier won the 200m and 400m freestyle. The record time boosted Cai Lin's confidence as she prepares for the Asian Games and Commonwealth Games later this year. "I tried to beat the qualifying times (for the World Championships) in the 400m freestyle yesterday (Saturday) but failed.

So, I'm happy I managed to do it on the last day of competition," said Cai Lin, 21. "I'm mixing training and studies at the moment, but I'll put in more hours in training towards the middle of the year as I have to get ready for the Commonwealth games and Asian Games." In the men's section, Selangor's Foo Jian Beng completed the double of sprint events when he added the 50m freestyle victory to the 100m freestyle he won on Saturday. Jian Beng clocked 23.83s to beat Hong Kong's Nathaniel Lai to the board.

RESULTS -- Men -- 50m freestyle: 1 Foo Jian Beng (Sel) 23.83s, 2 Nathaniel Lai (HK) 24.32s, 3 Soroush Khajagi (Irn) 24.42s; 100m butterfly: 1 Rainer Ng (Sin) 57.39s, 2 Cheng Ka Chun (HK) 57.50s, 3 Kevin Lim (KL) 57.60s; 200m backstroke: 1 Rainer Ng (Sin) 2:06.88s, 2 Ian James Barr (KL) 2:07.47s, 3 Melvin Chua (KL) 2:08.29s; 4x100m medley: 1 Singapore 3:54.55s (meet record), 2 Hong Kong 3:55.07s, 3 Iran 4:01.38s. WOMEN -- 50m freestyle: 1 Chui Lai Kwan (Sab) 26.71s, 2 Chan Kah Yan (KL) 27.17s, 3 Khoo Cai Lin (Sel) 27.56s; 800m freestyle: 1 Khoo Cai Lin (Sel) 8:48.53s (meet rec), 2 Cheng Yuen Yue (HK) 9:27.98s, 3 Sandra Ho (HK) 9:28.90s; 100m butterfly: 1 Wong Yee Ching (HK) 1:03.91s, 2 Chan Ka Ka (HK) 1:04.91s, 3 Hii Siew Siew (Swk) 1:05.68s; 200m backstroke: 1 Shana Lim (Sin) 2:20.31s, 2 Andrea Wan (HK) 2:25.18s, 3 Chan Kah Yan (KL) 2:27.41s; 4x100m medley: 1 Hong Kong 4:24.52s (meet rec), 2 Kuala Lumpur 4:34.43s, 3 Sabah 4:37.05s.

Cai Lin Breaks Meet Record To Qualify For World Championships

By LIM TEIK HUAT

On form: Cai Lin on her way to breaking the 800m freestyle record at the Malaysian Open yesterday. — AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor’s Khoo Cai Lin capped a perfect end to her Malaysian Open campaign by becoming the first Malaysian swimmer to qualify on merit for the World Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The Laos SEA Games gold medallist smashed the previous meet record of 8:49.04, held by China’s Zheng Jing since 2002, to win the 800m freestyle final in 8:48.53.

The 21-year-old Cai Lin breezed to the finish line by more than one body length ahead of nearest rival Cheng Yuen Yue of Hong Kong to dip inside next year’s World Championships qualifying mark of 8:48.70.

The World Championships, to be held in Shanghai in July next year, are the first to apply qualifying times on the individual entries.

It was her fourth gold medal of the meet and she undeniably stamped her mark as the best middle and long distance swimmer in the region.

Cai Lin had won the 200m and 400m freestyles and the 200m individual medley earlier.
But meeting the World Championships qualifying standards means more to her and show that she is on the right track towards the Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year.

“I tried to beat the qualifying times for the world meet in the 400m freestyle yesterday but could not,” she said.

“I’m happy I managed to do it on the last day of competition.

“I’m mixing training and studies at the moment and I’m still taking things easy.

“But I will put in more hours towards the middle half of the year as I have to get ready for the Commonwealth and Asian Games,” added Cai Lin, who has already qualified on merit for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in October and Guangzhou Asiad in November.

There was no joy, however, for Sabah swimmer Marellyn Liew on the final day of competition.
Her bid for a double in the butterfly discipline sank after she was disqualified for a false start in the 100m distance.

Marellyn was the first to touch home in 1:03.56 but, to her dismay, it was second-placed Wong Yee Ching of Hong Kong (1:03.91), who was declared the winner.

Other Malaysian winners yesterday were Foo Jian Beng and Chui Lai Kwan, who won the men’s and women’s 50m freestyle races respectively.

Jian Beng splashed to victory for Selangor in 23.83, outside his national mark of 23.45 set in the Terengganu Sukma in 2008, while Lai Kwan earned the gold for Sabah in 26.71.

Marellyn Training Under Keng Liat In Chase For Another Sukma Success

By LIM TEIK HUAT

Winners: Khoo Cai Lin and Kevin Yeap Soon Choy showing the 400m freestyle medal they won at the Malaysian Open swimming championship in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah-born swimmer Marellyn Liew is turning to former Asian Games gold medallist Lim Keng Liat for guidance as she bids to achieve a fabulous repeat of the Malaysia Games (Sukma) achievements in Tereng–ganu two years ago.
Marellyn was previously based in Bukit Jalil but returned to Kota Kinabalu in February to train under Keng Liat, who is currently preparing the Sabah swimmers for the upcoming Sukma in Malacca from June 10-19.

And the aspiring beautician showed she is in good shape heading towards what is a final Sukma outing by winning the women’s 50m butterfly title in the Malaysian Open swimming championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Marellyn, who turns 21 next month, surged to the front from the start and maintained her position to clock a winning time of 27.81.

Marellyn’s effort was not too far off her national mark of 27.45 set at the same meet two years ago.

There was a bonus for her when she anchored the Sabah quartet, also comprising of Chui Lai Kwan, Trini Wan and Evon Heng, to win the 4x100m freestyle in a new meet record time of 3:59.34.

Sabah also held the previous record of 4:00.62 set last year.

Marellyn was satisfied with her efforts as she came in without any serious preparation for it.
“My coach (Alex) told me to concentrate on Sukma as it’s just around the corner and he wants me to be in peak form.

“I took a few days rest before coming here and this is just a warm-up meet. I have always looked forward to competing in Sukma as I enjoyed the fun and I will miss it as this will be my last.

“I had a very memorable outing in Terengganu and I hope to go through it again,” said Marellyn, who is pursuing a higher diploma course in Sabah.

Marellyn basked in the high of winning the Best Sportsgirl award at the Terengganu Sukma after setting two national records.

She is, however, confined to doing only two individual events in Sukma due to her
status as a SEA Games silver medal winning athlete in Laos last year.

Marellyn will bid to win a double when she races the 100m butterfly today.

Selangor’s Foo Jian Beng, the Best Sportsboy at the Terengganu Sukma, capped his first Malaysian Open win by taking the 50m butterfly in 25.97.

Kevin Yeap secured a double gold for Perak in winning the men’s 400m freestyle in 4:00.31. Kevin had won the 1,500m freestyle on Friday.

Khoo Cai Lin claimed her third gold medal at the meet when she came out tops in the women’s 400m freestyle in 4:20.15.

Singapore’s Shana Lim bagged her second meet record in winning the women’s 100m backstroke final yesterday. Shana posted 1:04.62 to erase the previous record of 1:05.73 set by Negri Sembilan’s Lew Yih Wey in 2008.

Perak swimmer Kevin Betters Own Meet Record In Malaysian Open

By LIM TEIK HUAT

Long-distance specialist: Perak’s Kevin Yeap en route to winning the men’s 1,500m freestyle at the Malaysian Open on Friday. — MOHD SAHAR MISNI / The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Perak long-distance swimmer Kevin Yeap primed up for a double golden assault at next month’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Malacca with a record-breaking effort in the Malaysian Open swimming championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The Bukit Jalil-based swimmer, who will turn 21 in August, bettered his own meet record en route to winning the men’s 1,500m freestyle well ahead of Iran’s Saman Salari.
Kevin finished the 30-lap race in 15:55.64 to erase his previous record of 16:02.02 set two years ago.

It was not his fastest effort, though, as he had clocked 15:51.80 en route to taking the silver medal at the Laos SEA Games in December.

Still, it was good enough for him to emerge as the only record breaker of the day and Kevin himself was satisfied to be in good shape as he gears up for the Sukma from June 10-19.
Kevin is hoping to be the first swimmer to win double gold medals in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle for the third consecutive Sukma.

“I will be out to retain my 400m and 1,500m freestyle gold medals.

“Hopefully, I can pull it off with new records as this will be my last Sukma,” said Kevin, who will be making his fourth appearance at the biennial Games.

“I did not go all out as the priority is to peak at Sukma.”

Kevin will bid to pick up his second gold in the Malaysian Open when he competes in the 400m freestyle today.

Laos Games gold medallist Khoo Cai Lin breezed to victory in the women’s 200m individual medley and 200m freestyle races.

She posted 2:23.07 to finish ahead of Hong Kong’s Wong Yee Ching (2:25.11) and Sarah Ho (2:26.36) in the 200m individual medley.

The Selangor-born Cai Lin then won the 200m freestyle in 2:04.62, ahead of Kuala Lumpur’s Chan Kah Yan (2:08.96) and Hong Kong’s Cheng Yuen Yee (2:10.21).

Fifteen-year-old Christina Loh, representing Kuala Lumpur, claimed her first gold medal in the Malaysian Open when she clocked 34.28 in the women’s 50m breaststroke.

It was outside her national record of 33.42 set in March but enough to put her in front of Hong Kong’s Li Cheng (35.20) and Pahang’s Boey Wen Teng (35.81).

Kuala Lumpur had another winner in Melvin Chua, who won the men’s 200m individual medley in 2:10.12, pipping team-mate Ian James Barr (2:11.01).

MEN
50m breaststroke: 1. Fu Chun Pong (Hkg) 29.79, 2. Kwok Sum (Hkg) 30.18, 3. Joel Tan (Sin) 30.28.
200m individual medley: 1. Melvin Chua (Kul) 2:10.12, 2. Ian James Barr (Kul) 2:11.01, 3. Cheng Ka Chun (Hkg) 2:15.41.
200m freestyle: 1. Rainer Ng (Sin) 1:55.31, 2. Kevin Lim (Kul) 1:56.53, 3. Mattias Ng (Sin) 1:59.64.
1,500m freestyle: 1. Kevin Yeap (Prk) 15:55.64 meet rec, 2. Saman Salari (Iri) 16:29.30, 3. Keith Sin (Hkg) 17:05.76.
4x200m freestyle: 1. Hong Kong 8:00.81, 2. Iran 8:08.35, 3. Kuala Lumpur 8:12.43.

WOMEN

50m breaststroke: 1. Christina Loh (Kul) 34.28, 2. Li Cheng (Hkg) 35.20, 3. Boey Wen Teng (Pah) 35.81.
200m individual medley: 1. Khoo Cai Lin (Sel) 2:23.07, 2. Wong Yee Ching (Hkg) 2:25.11, 3. Sarah Ho (Hkg) 2:26.36.
200m freestyle: 1. Khoo Cai Lin (Sel) 2:04.62, 2. Chan Kah Yan (Kul) 2:08.96, 3. Cheng Yuen Yee (Hkg) 2:10.21.
4x200m freestyle: 1. Hong Kong 8:50.33, 2. Sabah 8:58.86, 3. Kuala Lumpur 9:18.43.

Kevin tampil hebat ceriakan hari suram

KEVIN Yeap memecahkan rekod kejohanan dalam acara 1,500m gaya bebas lelaki pada Kejohanan Renang Terbuka Malaysia semalam

SEMALAM masuk hari kedua Kejohanan Renang Terbuka Malaysia 2010 di Pusat Akuatik, Bukit Jalil, lapor SAHLIZAH MOHAMED.

Namun, suasana terus suram tanpa ada pencapaian luar biasa yang boleh dibanggakan.

Mungkin tidak keterlaluan jika dikatakan, suasan muram itu diserikan dengan kehebatan perenang Perak, Kevin Yeap yang tampil dengan satu rekod baru kejohanan dalam acara 1,500 meter gaya bebas lelaki.

Dia mencatatkan kepantasan 15:55.64s untuk memadamkan rekod lama, 16:02.02s.

"Saya sudah menjangka akan menang dalam acara ini dan saya sungguh gembira dengan pencapaian tersebut.

"Namun, saya masih belum bersedia untuk memecahkan rekod kebangsaan. Saya masih perlukan masa untuk merealisasikannya impian ini," kata perenang berusia 21 tahun itu.

Selepas ini, dia meletakkan sasaran memburu kejayaan pada Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) XIII untuk acara 400 dan 1,500 meter.

Katanya, pada Sukma 2004, dia hanya berjaya meraih pingat gangsa untuk kedua-dua acara tersebut.

Pada temasya 2006 dan 2008, dia berjaya mendominasi kedua- dua acara tersebut dengan meraih pingat emas.

"Ini adalah Sukma saya yang terakhir dan saya berharap agar kejayaan bakal menjadi milik saya.

Sementara itu, dalam saingan wanita, perenang kebangsaan, Khoo Cai Lin meraih dua pingat emas dalam acara 200m rampaian dan gaya bebas wanita.

Turut melakar nama sebagai pemenang pingat emas semalam ialah Christina Loh dari Kuala Lumpur melalui acara 50 meter kuak dada wanita.

Rich Pickings For SEA Games’ Best Athlete Daniel

PUTRAJAYA: Swimmer Daniel Bego boosted his bank account by RM29,000 after becoming the biggest recipient of the Laos SEA Games incentive awards given out by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday.

Only the SEA Games gold medallists were rewarded and Daniel topped the list with his stunning five-gold performance in Vientiane.

Previous Malaysian male swimmers had never won more than two individual gold medals in a single Games but Daniel topped the list by coming out tops in the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle as well as in the 100m butterfly.

Grand total: Daniel Bego shows off the trophy and the mock cheque for RM29,000 Tuesday.

The 20-year-old Sarawakian also secured an additional RM4,000 for setting four new SEA Games records.
The only event in which he did not lower the Games record was in the 200m butterfly.

Daniel, who also smashed the longest existing record in the 400m freestyle and was later named Best Male Athlete of the 25th edition of the Games, said the Asian and

Commonwealth Games would be his major goals this year.

“These are the two big meets which I hope to do well in. This is the first time I have qualified on merit for the Commonwealth and Asian Games. I have my A-level examinations some time in June and I plan to step up training after that,” said Daniel, who is also hotly tipped to win the Male Olympian of the Year award for the second successive time on Saturday.

A total of RM230,000 were handed out yesterday and aquatics, which accounted for 15 out of the 40 gold medals won by the Malaysian contingent, took the biggest share of the pie with a total of RM83,000.

Woman swimmer Siow Yi Ting was the second biggest individual recipient with RM18,000 for winning three gold medals in new SEA Games record times.

Fellow woman swimmer Khoo Cai Lin completed the list for swimming with RM6,000 while divers Yeoh Ken Nee, Bryan Nickson Lomas, Pandelela Rinong, Leong Mun Yee and Wendy Ng Yan Yee collectively earned RM30,000.

The national football team, who ended a 20-year gold medal drought in Laos, received RM20,000.

Completing the list were athletics (RM32,000), karate (RM25,000), pencak silat (RM20,000), wushu (RM15,000), badminton (RM15,000), boxing (RM10,000), taekwondo (RM5,000) and archery (RM5,000).

Tide In Cai Lin’s Favour

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: What appear­ed to be an im­po­ssi­ble dream at the start of the year is turning into a reachable goal for swimmer Khoo Cai Lin fo­llowing an impre­ssive outing in the Laos SEA Games.

Her remarkable effort in wiping off almost eight seconds off her own Games record in winning the 400m freestyle has earned her a place for a first appearance in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games next year.

Cai Lin, who retained the 400m freestyle title in 4:10.75 in Vientiane, not only beat the bronze medal-winning effort of 4:14.95 at the last Asiad in Doha but it was also better than the gold medal mark of 4:12.75.

Reason to smile: Khoo Cai Lin can look forward to making her debut in the Commonwealth and Asian Games next year.

Cai Lin has also qualified on merit for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in October after bettering the fifth-place time of 4:11.74 from the 2006 Games in Melbourne.
Cai Lin stand a chance to bag an Asiad medal in Guangzhou in November if she can produce another repeat performance and that will be the goal to keep in focus.

“It’s good to have beaten the qualifying times for the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games early,” said Cai Lin, who celebrated her 21st birthday on Christmas Day.

“There is a better chance for me to win a medal at the Asiad compared to the Commonwealth Games, where the Australians are already up there. I will try to go for it but I definitely have to swim even faster next year.”

It has been quite a memorable year for Cai Lin, who not only managed to erase the last of Nurul Huda Abdullah’s long-standing record in the 200m butterfly but also completed the year on a high by grabbing one gold and three silver medals in the Laos SEA Games.

Cai Lin erased Nurul’s 20-year-old mark of 2:16.83 with a time of 2:16.11 at the Mini Olympic Games in Bukit Jalil in August and subsequently bettered the mark in taking silver in 2:14.30 in Vientiane.

She also went more than two seconds faster than her own national record in the 800m freestyle, clocking 8:45.36 to also take a silver.

“I got one gold and three silvers (another from the 4x100m medley) but it was more satisfying to better the SEA Games record in all my races,” said Cai Lin.
“I also had the best 400m swim of my life. I never expected the time to be this fast. I wanted to keep the title medal I won the last time in Korat and that just motivated me to beat the Singaporeans.”

In Asian Games swimming, no Malaysian woman has managed to make a big impact, let alone win a medal since Nurul Huda Abdullah won two silver and two bronze medals in Seoul in 1986.
But if Cai Lin shows the same hunger for glory in Guangzhou, the outcome may just surprise everyone.

Daniel Sets Milestone With Magnificent Five-Gold Feat

TWO incredible efforts have given Daniel Bego a place in history as the first Malaysian male swimmer to win five gold medals in an edition of the SEA Games.

Daniel wiped three seconds off his own Games record to retain the 200m freestyle title at the National Sports Complex last night.

And the energetic 20-year-old barely had time to catch his breath before returning to win the 200m butterfly for the first time.

High five: Daniel Bego splashing his way to winning the men’s 200m butterfly event to complete his five-gold collection at the Laos SEA Games Monday.

Daniel did not have it easy as he was forced to come from behind in both races to enable Malaysia to end the swimming competition with an outstanding tally of nine gold medals – making it the best-ever effort by a Malaysian team at a Games outside Malaysia.

Daniel was more than one body-length behind American-trained Filipino Miguel Molina going into the last 50m of the 200m freestyle race but an incredible surge saw him touch home for gold in 1:49.22, erasing the Games record of 1:52.32.

It was also a new national record, improving on his previous time of 1:50.92 set at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In the 200m butterfly, Daniel put up another spectacular performance as he clawed his way back from fourth position going into the final turn to win the race in 2:00.61.

The 200m butterfly was the only individual race in which he failed to lower the meet record but his performances, undeniably, make him the most outstanding athlete of the Games thus far.
Daniel also finished with a bronze from the 4x200m freestyle.

“I don’t want to just lose without a fight. I came here not expecting much but just to try to defend my titles. I took better care of myself and was not sick but I was still having a bit of a problem with my shoulder,” he said.

“Winning so many (gold medals) is just awesome.”
The Sarawakian also smashed the longest-standing Games and national record in the 400m freestyle on Saturday.

Khoo Cai Lin also made a splash on the final night of the swimming programme, taking silver in the women’s 200m butterfly in 2:14.30.

Cai Lin, who had taken the 400m freestyle gold medal in a Games record time, almost chalked up the biggest upset when she led 2006 Doha Asian Games gold medallist Tao Li of Singapore after the halfway stage.

However, the more illustrious Singaporean managed to surge ahead for the gold. But Cai Lin still had the satisfaction of taking almost two seconds off her national record of 2:16.11 set in July this year.

“Her underwater kick is better than mine ... after all, she is a butterfly specialist. I’m still happy with the silver as I did not even make the final last time in Korat,” said Cai Lin, who also broke Games and national records in the 400m and 800m freestyle.

A poor start cost Chui Lai Kwan the chance to win a second gold medal, settling for the bronze in the women’s 100m freestyle in 26.22.

Siow Yi Ting’s bid to win a fourth gold was also dashed. The Negri Sembilan swimmer, who is still recovering from fever, finished sixth in the 400m individual medley in 5:05.45.

Daniel Delights With Five-star Show

Yi Ting Continues Her Golden Show

Siow Yi Ting poses with her gold medal after winning the 200m breaststroke in record time.

Malaysian Swimmers Making Waves

Daniel Bego Sets Two More Games Records

Swimmer Cai Lin Slashes Six Seconds Off Games Record

Winning smile: Khoo Cai Lin celebrates after winning the women’s 400m freestyle gold with a SEA Games record Friday.

Malaysia Set Three Sea Games Swimming Records

Tight Schedule Is A Dampener

Siow Yi Ting and

Daniel Bego

Cai Lin Smashes Nurul Huda's Longest-Standing National Record

Daniel Sparkles But Others Sink at World Swimming Meet

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Daniel Bego