Katrina and Yhing Huey Wows The Crowd

BUKIT JALIL (June 11, 20110): After clinching one gold medal each in yesterday’s individual disciplines, Selangor’s Katrina Ann and Lee Yhing Huey were back in the pool. This time as a pair for the technical duet discipline of the 14^th Malaysia Games (Sukma) synchronised swimming event here at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

And they proved to be a class above their competitors. An outstanding routine that was brilliantly choreographed and executed with such precision left the judges and crowd in awe.

“Our manner of presentation is of a different level in comparison with the other duets. We have been with the national team participating in international tournaments and that gave us the edge today,” said Katrina.

The golden duo who have been partnering each other for three years, have been training everyday in preparation of this games.

“We train six-seven a day, every day. We had taken time off from our respective study schedules and focused all our time and concentration on this. Sukma is really important to us. It’s a chance for us to prepare for upcoming international tournaments,” said Yhing Huey who will be competing in another two disciplines.

Katrina who’s biggest accomplishment to date is a fifth place finish at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games is delighted with the sport being included in Sukma.

“It’s a great stepping stone for young promising girls to showcase their talent. It will help in promoting the sport as well as increasing the quality of swimmers we have in the country.”

This is a timely boost for both Katrina and Yhing Huey who will be competing at the World Championships in Shangai this August.

Meanwhile in the technical free routine, Federal Territory’s Jacqueline Ng and Esther Chen served up a major upset by breaking the Selangor and Penang dominance.

The duo’s well coordinated routine earned them top spot while Penang’s Emanuelle Mah and Tasha Jane bagged their second silver of the day. Negri’s duet of Gan Zhen Yu and Fatin Syazwani had to settle for the bronze.

Tomorrow is the last day of competition and it will end with the team combination discipline.

Katrina and Yhing Huey Deliver For Selangor

BUKIT JALIL (June 10 2011): Another two gold medals were at stake in the solo disciplines at National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil in the women’s Synchronised Swimming event.

Selangor were keen on making amends after finishing outside the medals in the team competition and placed their hopes on Katrina Ann and Lee Yhing Huey.

Katrina did not let her team down as the 19- year-old former Bukit Jalil Sports School students clinched the gold medal with an impeccable routine.

“We were disappointed to have missed out on a podium finish yesterday, I felt we performed well but in the end errors in our timing cost us dearly. I was prepared for a strong challenge today. I would like to dedicate this gold to my team; they have been extremely supportive of me,” said Katrina.

Katrina is part of the ntional team along with her teammate Lee Yhing Huey who was in action in the solo free routine.

Emanuelle Mah started the solo free routine as clear favourite following her success in the team routine yesterday. The 16-year-old who returned home a month ago to train with the Penang team, was looking to make it a hat trick of gold medals.

Howeverit was not to be as Selangor swimmer Yhing Huey put in a near flawless performance to win the goldd. Emanuelle was left to settle for silver while Federal Territory’s Jacqueline Ng took home the bronze.

Yhing Huey who has been in the sport since the tender age of six was absolutely thrilled: “Our target this year is to win as many gold medals as possible, and I’m glad to be able to add to my team’s medal tally.

“The pressure was on me to deliver as Katrina did, but I did not let it get to me. I stayed focused and timed my movements well according to the music,” said Yhing who was inspired by her mom to pick up the sport.

Yhing Huey’s next main objective is to win three gold medals at the SEA Games this November and qualify for the World Championships.

Selangor will be hoping for a third and possibly fourth gold medal tomorrow when their golden girls Katrina and Yhing Huey will partner each other in the duet disciplines.

Penang On The Double

KUALA LUMPUR (June 9, 2011): They say there is no place like home but for the Penang synchronised swimming team, there was no place to call home for a long time.

They had to go from venue to venue for nearly two years but the grit and determination showed by the swimmers paid dividends when the islanders bagged two gold medals in the 14th Malaysia Games (Sukma) at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil today.

The Penang team of Emanuelle Mah, Alyssa Izadora, Cheah Cheng Im, Kok Wan Ting, Leong Jie Xi Natassha Julian, Nikki Chuah, Tasha Jane, Yew Yun Han and Yew Yun Qing danced their way to the gold medals in the technical and free disciplines.

They performed to the 2010 South Africa Football World Cup official theme song "Waving Flag" for the technical routine in the morning, garnering 179.10 points to finish ahead of Negri Sembilan (172.16) and Kuala Lumpur (132.75).

Penang adopted the theme song from the hit movie Transformers for the free routine in the afternoon and finished with 71.50 points ahead of Negri (69.50) and Kuala Lumpur (65.83).

"We are thankful to everyone involved with the synchronised swimming programme back in our hometwon for helping us to make this possible," said Emanuelle. "We made a few mistakes but thankfully, things turned out okay," added the 16-year-old, who returned home a month ago to train together with the whole team and is hoping to win a spot in the SEA Games end of this year.

Synchronised swimming last took place when Negri hosted the Games in 2004. There will be two more gold medals at stake in solo disciplines (free and technical) tomorrow..

Results (all finals)
Team free: 1. Penang 71.50, 2. Negri Sembilan 69.50, 3. Kuala Lumpur 65.83.
Team technical: 1. Penang 179.10, 2. Negri Sembilan 172.16, 3. Kuala Lumpur 65.833.