The Star : Welson casually swims to gold in record time

BY LIM TEIK HUAT

SHAH ALAM: Rio Olympic Games-bound Welson Sim took it easy, but still pulled off a meet record in the men’s 200m freestyle event in the Malaysian Open Swimming Championships at the Shah Alam Aquatic Centre.

Welson grabs the gold in the 200m freestyle event despite taking it easy in the race. - GLENN GUAN / The Star

The 19-year-old Sarawakian started strongly to power home in 1:48.64, erasing his 14-month-old meet record of 1:49.67 for the gold medal.

Hong Kong’s Cheung Kin Tat took silver in 1:51.82 and Selangor’s Yeap Zheng Yang (1:52.09) the bronze.

In March, Welson set a new national record on the way to qualifying for the Rio Olympics under the A time by clocking 1:47.67 in the Singapore National age-group meet.

He will also swim in the 400m freestyle race in Rio de Janeiro in August.

“I’m only pacing myself in this competition. There’s no expectations and I’m happy with the way I finished the race,” said Welson.

“I have three competitions in Europe next month.

“I cannot peak for every meet, but the Olympics is my main goal as I want to achieve something ... hopefully get into the top 16 semi-finals.”

“It’s a great feeling to break my own meet record for the gold. I need to maintain my winning attitude ahead of Rio.”

Wong Fu Kang, meanwhile, will have to work harder in the coming weeks if he is to grab a place in Rio.

The 17-year-old finished out of the medals in the men’s 50m breaststroke after coming in fourth in 29.04.

The Johor-born swimmer, who could only take bronze in the men's 100m breaststroke final on Thursday, is aware that he needs to work on his technique.

The 100m breaststroke is an Olympic event, but Fu Kang needs to improve on his best B timing of 1:02.46, which he posted on the way to the gold in the SEA Games in Singapore last year.

“I don’t have any good results here, but there’s still time. I’m going for the Singapore Open and Hong Kong Open after this,” said Fu Kang.

“My goal is to improve on my B timing and boost my chances to get to Rio.”

RESULTS
(All finals)

MEN

50m backstroke: 1. Gede Siman Sudarwata (Ina) 25.17 meet rec, 2. Tern Jian Han (Joh) 26.55, 3 Wong Tzi Rok (Sel) 27.50.

50m breaststroke: 1. Sandeep Sejwal (Ind) 28.34 meet rec, 2. Indra Gunawan (Ina) 28.46, 3. Kwok Ka Fai (Hkg) 29.02.

200m freestyle: 1. Welson Sim (Swk) 1:48.64 meet rec, 2. Cheung Kin Tat (Hkg) 1:51.82, 3. Yeap Zheng Yang (Sel) 1:52.09.

200m IM: 1. Triady Fauzi Sidiq (Ina) 2:02.16, 2. Muhammad Hamgari (Ina) 2:06.13, 3. Ayman Klezi (Syr) 2:08.13.

4x200m freestyle relay: 1. Indonesia 7:44.00 meet rec,  2. Selangor 8:02.77, 3. Kuala Lumpur 8:04.12.

WOMEN

50m backstroke: 1. Stephanie Shun (Hkg) 28.35 meet rec, 2. Yu Wai Ting (Hkg) 29.83, 3. Caroline Chan (Sel) 29.92.

50m breaststroke: 1. Phee Jinq En (Sel) 32.06 meet rec, 2. Erika Kong (Swk) 32.91, 3. Vanessa Evato (Ina) 33.86.

200m freestyle: 1. Camille Cheng (Hkg) 2:00.23 meet rec, 2. Sagita Putri Krisdewanti (Ina) 2:05.53, 3. Raina Saumi Grahana (Ina) 2:06.52.

200m IM: 1. Phiangkhwan Pawapotako (Tha) 2:18.41, 2. Ressa Kania Dewi (Ina) 2:21.51, 3 Erika Kong (Swk) 2:21.68.

4x200m freestyle relay: 1 Hong Kong 8:20.29 meet rec, 2. Indonesia 8:48.03, 3. Selangor 9:09.27.