SEA GAMES: Bryan Breaches 500-point Barrier

Bryan Nickson Lomas' dream of an Olympic medal is getting closer after he breached the 500-point barrier for the first time in his career to win his fourth straight men's 10m platform individual gold medal at the Jakabaring Aquatic Centre.

The 21-year-old recorded a six-dive series of 78.40, 84.15, 79.20, 89.25, 88.80 and 81.00 to earn 500.80 points for his second title in Palembang after his victory in the 3m springboard synchro with Yeoh Ken Nee on Monday.

Compatriot Ooi Tze Liang made it a one-two for Malaysia with a 445.25 total. Indonesia's Muhammad Nasrullah was third on 420.85.

Bryan has been improving his combined score consistently with each competition of late and if the Kuching-born diver continues to improve, he could be in line for an Olympic medal in London next year.

According to national coach Yang Zhuliang, Lomas will be fighting for a medal at the Olympics if he scores 560 points. Lomas said he was consistent and made fewer mistakes yesterday.

"I am happy to win my fourth straight platform individual title. It is a great achievement and I hope to continue winning for Malaysia in upcoming Sea Games," said Bryan yesterday.

"This title is significant as I surpassed the 500-point barrier for the first time. Although, I've done well of late, I still need to continue improving. My problem is my entry into the water. I need to work on it before the Olympics."

Yeoh Ken Nee and Pandelela Rinong are expected to win Malaysia's sixth and seventh title in the men's 3m springboard and women's 10m platform individual events today.

Read more: SEA GAMES: Bryan breaches 500-point barrier - Other - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/sea-games-bryan-breaches-500-point-barrier-1.6590#ixzz1dqC9xEbm

Ian Completes Clean Sweep Of Backstroke Events In Manila

PETALING JAYA: Fifteen-year-old Ian James Barr (pic) put himself in a prime position to challenge for a first-ever Sukma (Malaysia Games) swimming gold medal after completing a clean sweep of the backstroke disciplines on the last day of the South-East Asia (SEA) age-group championships in Manila yesterday.

The lanky youngster tapped on his reach advantage to touch home in 28.16 to win the boys’ Group 2 50m backstroke final to collect his fourth gold medal of the meet.

The six-footer had won the 100m and 200m backstroke races apart from claiming another gold in the 200m individual medley earlier. All three gold medals came with new record marks and his performances have marked him out as a strong contender when the Sukma swimming competition starts in Malacca next week.

Ian has yet to claim a Sukma medal but having improved by leaps and bounds since the last Sukma in Terengganu two years ago, he will surely be out to make an assault in Malacca.

Ian, who was sent to the Laos SEA Games for exposure last year, dipped under the one-minute barrier for the second time in winning the 100m backstroke three days ago and Kuala Lumpur can count on him to become their first men’s backstroke gold medallist in Sukma. Sarawak can also look to Erika Kong as one of their golden hopes in the pool after the 15-year-old claimed her second gold medal in the age-group meet in Manila.

Erika won the girls’ Group 2 200m breaststroke event in 2:37.30 to return to winning ways after losing the 100m race to fellow Malaysian Christina Loh the previous day.

Erika had started on a perfect note by setting a new meet record en route to winning the 50m breaststroke final on the first day of competition.

Malaysia also secured three silvers and two bronzes on the last day of competition.

The three silvers came from Tan Gin Yu (boys’ Group 2 200m butterfly), Tan Chong Heng (boys’ Group 3 200m breaststroke) and Kevin Lim (boys’ Group 1 200m butterfly).

The bronze medallists were Lai Wei Li (girls’ Group 1 800m freestyle) and Hii Siew Siew (girls’ Group 1 200m butterfly). Malaysia thus ended with a total medals tally of 10-7-3 in this year’s edition.

Perhaps disappointing in a way was the failure to win a single gold medal in Group 1 and it may be due to the swimmers holding back due to the proximity of Sukma next week.

Sabah swimming coach Lim Keng Liat, who is in charge of Wei Li, said the Sukma is the bigger priority for their swimmers.

“It is understandable as they are supposed to peak in Sukma and the SEA age-group is for them to warm up.

“Wei Li could have a chance to win the middle and long-distance races in Sukma but is only confined to two individual events because she came back with a SEA Games medal last year.

“She is thus making sure that she doesn’t slip up in the two individual events she is focusing on,” he said.

KL swimmer shatters SEA Record, Gains Revenge On Sukma Rival Erika

Sweet victory: Christina Loh made up for last Friday’s defeat to main rival Erika Kong by winning the 100m breastroke event in Manila Saturday.

PETALING JAYA: Fifteen-year-old Christina Loh hit back with a vengeance by wiping out a seven-year-old meet record to take her first gold medal in the South-East Asia (SEA) age-group swimming championships at the Trace College Aquatic Pool in Manila yesterday.

Christina, one of the golden hopes for Federal Territory in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Malacca next week, surged ahead of compatriot Erika Kong to win the girls’ Group 2 100m breaststroke race in 1:12.90.

It was a sweet victory for Christina, who erased Singaporean Sando Ho’s record of 1:13.87 set in 2003, to get the better of Sarawak-born Erika, who also dipped under the meet record in 1:13.27.

On Friday, Erika had pipped Christina to the gold medal in the 50m breaststroke race in a new record time.

Both the 15-year-olds have yet to win a Sukma gold medal and the stage is now set for them to slug it out in the breaststroke disciplines in Malacca.

Federal Territory can also look forward to another golden outing from 15-year-old Ian James Barr, who continued with his winning ways by grabbing his third gold medal in Manila.

The lanky Ian smashed another 18-year-old meet record en route to winning the boys’ Group 2 200m backstroke final in 2:09.12. His time erased the previous mark of 2:09.27 set by Nattapong Khetin of Thailand in 1992.

Ian had earlier bagged gold medals in the 200m individual medley and 100m backstroke on the opening day of competition.

Tang Chong Heng of Sarawak delivered the third gold medal for Malaysia on the second day of the meet by clocking 1:09.64 in the boys’ Group 3 100m breaststroke event.

Team manager Kelvin Chong said Malaysia could have hauled in more medals if not for several close finishes.

“We hope to get more medals on the final day of competition. Lai Wei Li is a strong gold medal prospects in the girls’ Group 1 800m freestyle. Erika and Christina will also be fighting for the girls’ Group 2 200m breaststroke gold medal.”