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.

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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.

Synchronized Swimming: Malaysia claim team gold

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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).