The Star : The proof's in the pudding as Ching Hwang breaks national record

BY TAN MING WAI

Lim Ching Hwang

KUCHING: Taking up the 200m individual medley (IM) as an additional event paid dividends for Federal Territories swimmer Lim Ching Hwang.

The 20-year-old, more well-known as a freestyle sprinter, showed his prowess in the multiple-stroke discipline by breaking his own national record at the Sukma.

The United States-based Ching Hwang clocked 2:04.77 to smash his previous mark of 2:04.89 in an invitational event at the Ohio State University last November.

Selangor’s Jordan Yip finished second in 2:08.81 while Eric Tan of Sabah clocked 2:11.38 to finish third.

The fact that Ching Hwang was able to smash the national record just days after recovering from an illness made the feat even more remarkable.

“I’m very happy with this victory and a new national mark,” said Ching Hwang.

“I was down with fever and sore throat last week. I was on antibiotics and couldn’t train for several days. This win is just so special,” added the 2013 Asian Youth Games gold medallist.

Keith Lim, also from FT, was the other record breaker of the day. The 19-year-old touched the wall in 50.77 in the 100m freestyle to better the previous Sukma record of 50.94 set by Foo Jian Beng at the 2008 Terengganu Sukma. It was Keith’s first individual triumph in three Sukma appearances.

Selangor continued to dominate as they bagged four more golds through Chan Jie (men’s 50m butterfly), Yap Siew Hui (women’s 50m butterfly), Jordan Yip (men’s 200m backstroke) and Nadia Adrianna Redza (women’s 200m).

Erika Kong claimed Sarawak’s first swimming gold after she triumphed in the women’s 200m individual medley.

Penang also opened their gold account – courtesy of Elynn Tan’s 100m freestyle triumph.