Daniel Boosts Hopes Of Earning A Second Straight Olympic Ticket

KUALA LUMPUR: Daniel Bego gave his hopes of earning a second consecutive Olympic appearance a boost by winning the 50m butterfly race at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

It was a welcome return to the pool for the 23-year-old after a year out recovering from shoulder injuries.

I haven’t competed for so long and just want to see where I stand at the moment. —DANIEL BEGO 

Daniel won the 50m butterfly, in the 18 and over category, in 26.38 for Sarawak while Kuala Lumpur’s Andrew Loh was second (26.43) in the national age-group meet, which doubles up as an Olympic qualifier.

SEA GAMES: Marellyn Sees No Silver Lining

Marellyn Liew may have earned two silver medals on the opening day of swimming but she was one disappointed athlete.

The 22-year-old arrived in Palembang with an aim to qualify for next year's London Olympic Games but failed to achieve her target en route to finishing second in the women's 100m butterfly and 4x100m medley.

"I will quit if I don't get to compete at next year's Olympics. I've been trying so hard and even trained in China before the Sea Games but today (yesterday), I did not make it," Marellyn at the Jakabaring Aquatic Centre.

"I am not very happy with my achievements today (yesterday). I've got two more events (50m and 200m butterfly) left  and hopefully, I can clock faster times to qualify for the Olympics."

Marellyn won her third successive Sea Games silver in the 100m butterfly by clocking 1:01.92 seconds, behind Singapore's China-born Tao Li, who swam a near perfect race to post 58.84 to break her own Games record by 0.40s.

The Olympic qualifying mark under Category B is 1:00.70s.

In the relay event, Marellyn swam  the third leg to help Malaysia, also comprising Khoo Cai Lin, Chan Kah Yan and Leung Chii Lin, retain their silver with a time of 4:15.02s. Singapore successfully defended their title with a super-fast 4:11.27 while Thailand took bronze with 4:16.61.

Joseph Schooling, whose mother is Malaysian, underlined his credentials in the Games by winning the men's 50m butterfly (24.06s), followed by Indonesia's Victor Sutanto (24.20) and Vietnam's Quy Phuoc Hoang (24.66).

The 15-year-old used to be based in Perak, where he won under-age competitions before moving to Singapore.

Malaysia's Foo Jian Beng, who trained in the United States just before the Games, failed to make his mark, finishing seventh with 25.94 in the event. Cai Lin just missed out on the medals in the women's 200m freestyle, by finishing fourth (2:04.54).

Singapore dominated proceedings, winning four gold followed by Thailand with two in six events.

Read more: SEA GAMES: Marellyn sees no silver lining - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/sea-games-marellyn-sees-no-silver-lining-1.5204#ixzz1de1SUWFN

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."

Perenang Kebangsaan Ungguli Kejohanan

KUALA TERENGGANU - Dua perenang kebangsaan mengungguli Kejohanan Kapas-Marang International Swimathon 2010 di Pantai Peranginan Kelulut, Marang.

Perenang Perak, Kevin Yeap Soon Choy muncul juara keseluruhan kategori lelaki selepas menjadi peserta pertama yang berjaya menamatkan saingan pada jarak 6.5 kilometer dengan catatan masa satu jam 33 minit 33 saat.

Sementara, perenang wanita dari Sabah, Leung Chii Ling dinobatkan juara keseluruhan wanita dengan mencatat masa satu jam 33 minit 35 saat. Kedua-dua perenang berkenaan adalah pemegang pingat perak pada Sukan SEA di Laos, Vietnam, tahun lalu.

Seorang lagi perenang wanita kebangsaan, Lai Mei Juan sekadar menduduki tangga kedua keseluruhan dengan catatan masa satu jam 37 minit 13 saat.

Kevin berkata, walaupun baru pertama kali menyertai pertandingan itu, dia yakin mampu memenangi kategori 20 hingga 34 tahun tetapi tidak menyangka muncul juara keseluruhan. “Saya berdepan saingan sengit dan keadaan ini hampir melemahkan semangat saya merangkul kejayaan. “Namun, dengan semangat berkobar-kobar, saya cuba menamatkan saingan dan menjadi peserta pertama sampai ke garisan penamat,” katanya.

Menurutnya, kejayaan itu adalah petunjuk terbaik buatnya mewakili negara pada sesi kelayakan ke Sukan Komanwel kelak. “Saya harap kejayaan ini turut membakar semangat saya beraksi cemerlang. “Sebenarnya, berenang di laut berbeza dengan kolam renang kerana ia banyak menguji keupayaan fizikal dan mental berikutan terpaksa mengharungi ombak besar serta arus deras,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Mei Juan pula berkata, pada mulanya dia menyertai pertandingan hanya sekadar suka-suka kerana tidak mempunyai pengalaman dalam acara berkenaan. “Saya hanya menjangka memenangi kategori wanita 20 tahun ke atas tetapi dinobatkan sebagai juara keseluruhan.

“Pencapaian ini memberi saya peluang membuat persiapan awal menghadapi Sukan Komanwel,” katanya.

Seramai 300 peserta daripada 12 negara mengambil bahagian pada perlumbaan berkenaan, antaranya Australia, Kanada, Denmark, Jepun, Jerman, United Kingdom, Vietnam dan Netherlands. Sebanyak 10 kategori dipertandingkan dengan menawarkan hadiah keseluruhan berjumlah RM44,500.

Kevin, Chii Lin Hebat

LEONG CHII LIN (kanan) dan Kevin Yeap (kiri) dinobatkan sebagai pemenang keseluruhan kategori wanita dan lelaki pada Cabaran Kapas-Marang Swimathon Antarabangsa 2010.


STATUS selaku perenang negara memberi kelebihan kepada Kevin Yeap dan Leong Chii Lin untuk muncul juara keseluruhan pada Cabaran Kapas-Marang International Swimathon 2010 di Pantai Kelulut, Marang semalam.

Kevin yang meraih pingat perak dalam acara 1500 meter gaya bebas pada Sukan SEA di Laos tahun lalu muncul juara keseluruhan kategori lelaki.

Perenang kelahiran Perak itu berjaya menamatkan cabaran sejauh 6.5 kilometer dari Pulau Kapas ke Pantai Kelulut, Marang dengan masa satu jam 33 minit dan 33 saat.

Selain muncul juara keseluruhan, Kevin turut menguasai kategori lelaki (20-34 tahun), sekali gus membolehkannya membawa pulang hadiah kemenangan berjumlah RM3,000.

"Ini adalah penyertaan pertama saya pada kejohanan swimathon dan saya akui cabaran ini cukup sukar terutamanya apabila kami perlu berdepan dengan arus ombak yang deras.
"Bagaimanapun, pengalaman beraksi pada kejohanan antarabangsa selain latihan yang tersusun memberi kelebihan kepada saya," katanya yang bakal membawa cabaran negara pada temasya Sukan Komanwel di India hujung tahun ini.

Sementara itu, perenang kelahiran Sabah, Chii Lin berjaya mencipta kejutan apabila muncul juara keseluruhan kategori wanita.

Chii Lin yang beraksi dalam acara 50 dan 100 meter gaya bebas dalam skuad renang kebangsaan berjaya menewaskan dua pencabar utamanya, Lai Mei Juan dan seorang lagi perenang negara, Khoo Chai Lin.

Dia berjaya menamatkan cabaran itu dengan masa 1:33.35s diikuti Mei Juan (1:37.13s) dan Chai Lin yang merekodkan masa 1:38.58s.

"Memang banyak bezanya apabila berenang di kolam biasa dengan berenang di lautan. Kami terpaksa melalui perjalanan yang jauh dan lebih perit lagi apabila mata saya kerap sakit kerana dimasuki air masin," jelasnya.

Chii Lin yang membantu kuartet negara meraih gangsa dalam acara 4x200m gaya bebas pada Sukan SEA Laos turut mengungguli kategori remaja wanita (12-19 tahun).

Acara lelaki (35-49 tahun) menjadi milik peserta dari United Kingdom, Anrew Tebbutt dengan masa 1:34.23s diikuti dua peserta tempatan, Yau Yee Ming dan Kohing Antak.

Nor Adli Safwan pula muncul juara kategori remaja lelaki (12-19 tahun) dengan masa 1:33.34 manakala NorShaniran Norsam dan Tan Aik Jun masing-masing berpuas hati di tempat kedua dan ketiga.

Kategori veteran lelaki (50 tahun ke atas) dikuasai peserta luar dengan Kojo Okano dari Jepun muncul juara diikuti Han Ah Wah (Malaysia) dan Eduard Nowak dari Jerman.

Cabaran Kapas-Marang International Swimathon 2010 merupakan acara tahunan yang dianjurkan kerajaan negeri Terengganu dan dikendalikan oleh Trisports Events Management Sdn. Bhd.

Tight Schedule Is A Dampener

Siow Yi Ting and

Daniel Bego

Chii Lin Falls Short In Bid To Qualify For Laos Games

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13TH FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Date : 17 July - 2 August 2009
Venue : Foro Italico, Rome

Note: Click on Roma09 logo to go to the Games official website

Athletes In Preparation :
Divers : Pandelela Rinong ak Pamg, Traisy Vivien ak Tukiet & Fakhrul Izzat b. Md Zain (soon coming into Pre U)
Synchro Swimmers: Zyanne Lee Zhien Huey & Katrina Ann bt. Abdul Hadi
Swimmer : Leung Chii Lin (soon coming into Pre U)

Chii Lin’s Payback

S. Rajasingam

Sabah star eager to turn coach after she’s done with the action


STAR IN THE WATER: Chii Lin erased the 100m freestyle national record twice in three months in 2007LEUNG CHII LIN’s ambition is to become a swim coach when she graduates from university. This cheerful swimmer from Sabah,wants to impart her knowledge and experience to young children in her hometown, Kota Kinabalu.

Chii Lin was on the right track at last week's 52nd Malaysian Invitational Open Swimming Championships in Paroi. She won the gold medals in the 50m freestyle, 200m individual medley and 4x100m medley relay, silver in the 50m butterfly and 100m freestyle.

She also qualified on merit to compete in the World University Games which will be held from July 1-12 in Belgrade. Chii Lin showed her prowess in the pool when she erased the 100 metres freestyle national record twice inside three three months in 2007.

First she set 58.15s at the Malaysian Open in Paroi in August 2007 and later rewrote that time on November 26 at the National Inter Club Championships in Bukit Jalil with a time of 58.06s. The teenager has been winning honours in the local swimming arena over the past four years.
At the 2006 National Schools Sports Council (MSSM) meet in Kota Kinabalu, Chii Lin amassed four gold medals with three records in the girls’ Under-15. Then at the March 2007 MSSM meet in Alor Star, she topped with six gold medals and setting five records. Her biggest meet was the final of the 50m freestyle at the 2006 World Youth Championships in Rio de Janaerio, Brazil.

“I have been swimming since five years old and began competing since seven. My first win came when I was 11. It was at the 2002 National Age Group where I won 10 gold medals.

“I followed in the footsteps of elder brother Jiun Shyang and sister Chii Wen who were both Sukma swimmers for Sabah. Jiun Shyang took up swimming to cure his asthma illness.

“My dad who runs a seafood restaurant used to send all three of us to the Likas Aquatics Centre for state training and my parents would watch us compete during their off day.”

Chii Lin trains from 7-9am and from 4.30-6pm with 13 other swimmers from the national squad in preparation for the Laos Sea Games under coach Paul Thomas Birmingham

Chii Lin Splashes To Two New Records

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