The Star : Golden outing for Jordan in Asian Schools Swimming Championships

BY LIM TEIK HUAT


PETALING JAYA: Jordan Yip returned with the only gold for Malaysia at the Asian Schools Swimming Championships in Indonesia.

The 17-year-old emerged victorious in the boys’ 100m backstroke after posting 59.22 in Tuesday’s final in Palembang. He also managed to erase the meet record of 57.59 set in 2014.

Thai Tarit Thongchumsin finished second in 59.49. Indonesia’s Anugrah Dwiki clocked 59.60 to take the bronze.

There was no hint that Jordan was going to win the gold as he was only the third fastest going into the final after clocking 1:00.25. Tarit was the favourite with a time of 59.76 followed by Anugrah in 1:00.18.

It was an impressive outing for Jordan as he also bagged one silver and one bronze for Malaysia in the four-day championships.

Jordan was second in the 200m individual medley in 2:12.04 and clocked 57.37 to earn a bronze in the 100m butterfly.

Malaysia also picked up another three bronzes through Elynn Tan Yilin in the girls’ 50m freestyle (26.90) and 100m freestyle (1:04.28) and Ng Yi Hao in the boys’ 200m breaststroke (2:22.45).

Boosted by his good showing in Indonesia, Jordan is now hopeful of making the podium in next month’s Malaysia Games (Sukma) in Kuching next month.

“It will be my second Sukma. I failed to win any medals in 2014. This time, I hope to win some medals for Selangor. But it will be hard to win the backstroke events as national swimmer Tern Jian Han is the favourite,” said Jordan, whose favourite swimmer is Kosuke Hagino of Japan.

“I am targeting the 200m individual medley gold and perhaps the 100m butterfly,” added Jordan, who bagged 12 out of 15 golds at stake in his age-group at the MSSM (national schools) Swimming Championships in Shah Alam in March this year.