By Fadhli Ishak
FREESTYLE specialist Lim Ching Hwang strengthened his credentials as a potential successor to Daniel Bego with another impressive performance at the National Age Group Swimming Championships yesterday.
The Singapore-based Ching Hwang clocked 51.040 seconds to clinch the 100-metre freestyle gold in the boys' Under-18 at the National Aquatic Complex in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
The time saw him comfortably break the former meet record of 51.89s set by Foo Jian Beng in 2008 and once again dip under the 'A' qualifying time of 51.46s for the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games (YOG) next year.
In second place was Sarawak's Welson Sim who managed a 52.60s personal best in the event with Penang's Alwyn Tan finishing third on 53.18s. The duo's performances also saw them book their tickets for the YOG as their performances had beaten the 'B' time of 53.26s.
Despite missing out on the Barcelona World Championships 'B' qualifying time of 50.64s, Ching Hwang said he was happy to get another win under his belt, considering his busy competition schedule this year.
The 17-year-old has already qualified for the World Championships in the 200m freestyle.
He achieved it by winning gold in the event at the Singapore National Age Group Championships last month in 1:50.42s, bettering the 'B' qualifying mark of 1:52.21s.
"It is quite a busy time for me now as I just swam the heats for the Singapore Schools Championships (SSSC) last week and will swim in the SSSC finals after this tournament ends," said Ching Hwang, who has been training at the Singapore Sports School since he was 14.
"I swam a faster time (100m freestyle) at the SSSC last week where I first qualified for the YOG.
"However, I am still happy with my time, considering that I am still maintaining my normal training schedule through this tournament and did not taper for this event."
He is looking forward to swimming in his two other favourite events -- the 50m and 200m freestyle events tomorrow, but will not put unnecessary pressure on himself to break any of Daniel Bego's national records here.
"The 50m, 100m and 200m freestyle events are my favourites, and I am always looking forward to improving myself in these disciplines.
"I know many people have been talking about myself beating Daniel's records but at the moment that is not my priority.
"I am just looking to improve on my racing experience and personal times."
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| Lim Ching Hwang clinched gold in Under-18 100m freestyle at the National Aquatic Complex yesterday. Pic by Sairien Nafis |
Ching Hwang also did well in the 100m butterfly where he finished third on 56.92s and beat the YOG 'B' time of 57.37s. Johor's Tern Jian Han won gold on 56.61s while Selangor's Chan Jie took silver on 56.82s.
Despite beating the YOG qualifying time, Chan Jie and Jian Han will not be competing in Nanjing next year as they will be overage by then.
Meanwhile, the other events saw Johor's Wong Fu Kang (boys' Under-15) also clinching qualification for the YOG in the 200m breaststroke when he took gold in 2:22.25s (YOG qualifying 'B' is 2:27.22s).
His performance also saw him break the former meet record of 2:27.68s set by Perak's Lau Zheng Fong in 2007.
Selangor's Nadia Adrianna Redza (girls' under-15) was also in impressive form in the 200m breaststroke when her winning time of 2:39.81s bettered the YOG 'B' qualifying mark of 2:40.60s.
Selangor teammates Yap Siew Hui and Asmalia Filzati (both girls' Under-15) will also be heading to Nanjing next year when they both went under the YOG 'B' time of 1:04.81s in the 100m butterfly.
Siew Hui won gold in a new meet record of 1:02.65s, the old record of 1:03.00 was set by Sarawak Hii Siew Siew in 2009.
Asmalia finished second on 1:04.52s while Hong Kong's Charlotte Anderson took the bronze on 1:05.82s.
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