SWIMMING: Trio Flex Muscles To Win Four Gold

KATRINA Ann Hadi and the Lee sisters -- Zylane and Zyanne -- turned in splendid displays to dominate synchronised swimming at the Southeast Asian Championships which ended in Singapore on Monday.

The trio bagged four of the seven gold medals on offer but it could have been a clean sweep if Malaysia had a full representation.

Katrina, who won five gold medals at last year's Indonesia Sea Games, mesmerised the judges with her grace to win the solo technical routine, earning 74.670 points.

The 22-year-old then combined with Zyanne to claim two more gold medals in duet free and technical routines.

The duo were given a tough fight by Singapore's Stephanie-Crystal Yap in the duet free event before prevailing after scoring higher for artistic impression.

Katrina-Zyanne amassed a 74.733 total to edge Stephanie-Crystal, who finished with 70.830.

In the duet technical routine, Katrina-Zyanne were a class above, scoring 75.335 points ahead of silver medallists Stephanie-Crystal (70,830).

Zylane, younger sister of Zyanne, dominated the sole free routine event, posting 70.633 to edge Singapore's Crystal, who scored 70,083, for the gold.

No Medal Rush For Malaysia

ANOTHER DOWNER: Katrina Ann had another bad day yesterday

NEW DELHI: Malaysia's poor showing yesterday pushed their medal standings to seventh spot on the fourth day of the 2010 Commonwealth Games as Australia and India continued their medal haul.

Malaysian athletes took part in 13 finals but only managed a silver medal in shooting — courtesy of Hazli Izwan Amir and Hafiz Adzhar in the 25m rapid fire pistol event.
While it was less productive day for Malaysia, there is a ray of hope today as more athletes would be chasing for medals.

At least 10 Malaysians would be taking part in the finals of their respective disciplines.
Our medal hopes lie in archery, badminton (team event), cycling, shooting, tables tennis, weightlifting and squash where Nicol David would be after her first CWG medal.
Unstoppable Nicol is closer to winning the elusive gold medal after she defeated Australia's Kasey Brown 3-0 in the semifinals yesterday.

"I had been giving her too much to work with," said the five time world champion.
"Once I started firing my drives in and making sure she had to work for the points, it was different."

In the men's singles squash semifinals, Ivan Yeun defeated Scotland's Harry Leitch 15-13, 9-11, 11-9, 11-5 making sure of a medal today.

"I feel great. I t's my f irst Commonwealth Games and I had a great experience," he said after the victory.
Meanwhile in the badminton mix team event, Malaysia defeated Singapore in the semifinals 3-1 and would take on India in the finals today.
Athletes would be chasing after 42 gold medals at stake today. Outside the stadiums, the Games is filled with woes and controversies — from choking toilets in the athletes' rooms due to used condoms, malfunctioning CWG website that irked journalists, half empty stadiums and annoying tight security.

Luck was not on Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi's side when she failed to grab a medal due to a small difference in points in the solo event of the Free Routine Synchronised Swimming.
The Malaysian swimmer was placed fifth place collecting 1.333 points behind Australian swimmer Tarren Otte (79.167) who was fourth place while Lauren Smith of Scotland won the bronze (80.333).

Commonwealth Games/Swimming: Malaysians Fail To Make It a Day To Remember

Lee Zhien Huey and Png Hui Chuen lie fourth in the duet.

FINALLY, there was Malaysian presence in a swimming final as the men's 4x200m freestyle lined up along the best of the Commonwealth Games at the SP Mukherjee Aquatic Complex yesterday.

Daniel Bego, Ian James Barr, Foo Jian Beng and Lee Leam Yoong finished sixth in a time of 7:43.53s but coach Paul Birmingham was satisfied as the swimmers met their target of making the final. Australia took the gold, Scotland the silver and South Africa the bronze.

The rest of the Malaysians didn't enjoy a great day at the pool as Foo Jian Beng clocked 51.95 in the men's 100m freestyle and failed to advance to the semi-finals.

Ian, who made the 50m backstroke semi-final on Monday, failed to make an impact in the 200m backstroke heats as he clocked 2:08.84.

It was a similar story for the women as Erika Kong clocked 2:39.03 in the 200m breaststroke while Christina Loh came home in 2:41.77 to end their campaigns in the heats.

In synchronised swimming, Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi is within reach of the bronze after posting 39.417 points to lie third after the qualification technical routine.

The Malaysian is just behind Scotland's Lauren Smith, who scored 39.917 yesterday. Canada's Marie-Pi Boudreau is the runaway leader with 47.667 while second is Jenna Randall of England with 44.583.

In the duet, Lee Zhien Huey and Png Hui Chuen are also fourth with 37.334 after the technical routine.

Canadians Marie-Pi and Chloe Isaac are in the lead with 47.500 while Olivia Allison and Jenna Randall of England are second with 44.250. Third are Australians Eloise Amberger-Sarah Bombell with 39.250.

Read more: Commonwealth Games / swimming: Malaysians fail to make it a day to remember http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/oocviuhjcb-2/Article/index_html#ixzz11qBbdwO6

Katrina Raises Hopes Of A First-Ever Medal

KATRINA Ann Hadi raised a glimmer of hope of a first-ever medal in synchronised swimming after a fine performance in the technical part of the individual event at Dr S.P. Mukherjee Sports Complex yesterday.

She is in fourth position after chalking 39.417 and Scotland’s Lauren Smith (39.919) appeared to be the one to beat for Katrina to take the bronze medal.

Jenna Randall of England is placed second on 44.583 while Marie Gagnon Bodreau, who chalked up 47.667, looks set to retain the gold medal for Canada.

It will be harder for Lee Zhien Huey-Shareen Png in the duet even though they are in fourth spot on 37.334. They have a lot of catching to do with Eloise Amberger-Sarah Bombell of Australia in front of them on 39.250.


Having a splash: Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi performing in the synchronised swimming individual event yesterday.

The medals for the individual and duet will be determined today after the swimmers conclude the free part of their events.

Foo Jian Beng failed in his bid to qualify for the semi-finals of the men’s 100m freestyle after posting 51.95 for 20th place.

Erika Kong and Christina Loh finished 12th and 13th with times of 2:39.03 and 2:41.77 respectively in the women’s 200m breaststroke.

Ian James Barr also failed to make the cut for the men’s 200m backstroke after posting the 13th fastest time of 2:08.84.

The fastest eight swimmers advanced to the final in the 200m distances for backstroke and breaststroke.

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)

Synchronized Swimming: Malaysia claim team gold

Click image to read article

SEREMBAN: The individual titles eluded Malaysia but they managed to capture the team gold in the senior categories of the Malaysian Open and junior synchronised swimming championships held at the Paroi Aquatic Centre last weekend.

National junior team member Misa Sugiyama won the girls’ solo open title for Japan with a score of 84.001 ahead of Uzbekistan’s Ruzmetova (78.834) and Malaysia’s Shareen Png (76.667).

Ruzmetova partnered Popova Valentina to take the duet gold medal on 77.750. Malaysians Zyanne Lee-Katrina Ann Hadi scored 75.384 for the silver and another Malysian pair, Shareen-Zylane Lee, finishing on 74.94 for the bronze.

Malaysia took the team gold medal with a score of 38.834 ahead of Singapore (34.250) and Vietnam (33.167).

Japan emerged overall champions with a medal haul 6-3-0 followed by Malaysia (5-5-5) and Singapore (4-3-2).