The NST : SWIMMING: Daniel returning to form

By AJITPAL SINGH | ajitpalsingh@nst.com.my

ON COURSE: He bags two silver in Singapore as Kevin, Ching Hwang, Yi Ting and Cai Lin also shine

DANIEL Bego is finally showing signs of making a mark in the pool following a commendable performance at the recent Singapore national age-group championships.

Daniel Bego won silver in the men's 200m and 400m freestyle in the Singapore national age-group championships recently

The former Sea Games champion not only took silver in the men's 200m and 400m freestyle but also earned qualification to the World Aquatics Championship, scheduled on July 19-Aug 4, in Barcelona.

Daniel clocked 1:52.04 for his first international medal of the season in the 200m before finishing second in the 400m in 3:57.36.

The Sarawak-born swimmer, who starred with five gold at the 2009 Laos Sea Games, has just recovered from two shoulder surgeries to correct a long-standing bone spur problem.

He was supposed to make a return at the Indonesia Sea Games that year but withdrew after it was found that the bone spur had not healed properly.

Daniel has not been competing regularly but hopes to make a strong return this season.

Kevin Yap, Lim Ching Hwang, Siow Yi Ting and Khoo Cai Lin also met the world meet qualification mark for their respective events.

Qualifying for the world meet ends in July.

Yi Ting, double gold medallist at the Indonesia Sea Games, made her presence felt in the women's 200m individual medley and the 200 breaststroke. Yi Ting posted 2:19.06 to win the girls' 18 and over 200m individual medley, dipping below the qualifying mark of 2:19.69. She then clocked 2:32.76 to go under the qualifying time of 2:33.06 in the 200m breaststroke.

Yi Ting, 27, also clinched the 100m breaststroke title in 1:11.13 ahead of compatriot Christina Loh, who came home in 1:11.37.

Ching Hwang also claimed wins in the boys' 15-17 age-group 100m and 200m freestyle events.

The Singapore-based Ching Hwang clocked 1:50.42 in the boys' 200m freestyle.

Ching Hwang is guaranteed a debut appearance at the world meet for the discipline as he comfortably beat the qualifying time of 1:52.21.

The 15-year-old also won the 100m freestyle in 50.87 and finished second in the 50m freestyle in 23.93.

Kevin and Cai Lin met the world meet qualifying time for men's 400m freestyle and women's 800 freestyle at the London Olympics and Asians Championships in Dubai respectively.

Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (ASUM) secretary Edwin Chong, who was delighted with their performance in Singapore, said: "They must train harder and record faster times to make an impact on the world meet."

The swimmers' next competition is the national age-group, scheduled for April 19-21, in Kuala Lumpur.