Welson wary of threat from Vietnam swimmers

KUALA LUMPUR: Welson Sim (pic) expects Vietnamese swimmers to be his biggest threat as he seeks to win three golds at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games.

The 20-year-old from Kuching will feature three freestyle events – men’s 200m, 400m and 1,500m.

Welson won the 400m gold at Singapore 2015 with a new Games record of 3:53.97.

He is confident that he can defend that gold and also better the record as he holds the national record of 3:49.48, which is the fastest time in the region.

“But I expect to face a strong challenge from two Vietnamese swimmers in the 200m and 1,500m,” said Welson after checking in for the final phase of the SEA Games training camp at a hotel here yesterday.

The two Vietnamese swimmers – Hoang Quy Phuoc (200m) and Lam Quang Nhat (1,500m) – set new Games records in Singapore two years ago.

Quy Phuoc clocked 1:48.96 while Quang Nhat posted 15:31.03.

Welson knows that expectations will be high on him to win three golds after he beat reigning Olympic champion Mack Horton of Australia in the 400m freestyle by clocking 3:49.48 in the Mare Nostrum Tour in Monte Carlo, Monaco, in June.

“The pressure will be on me to deliver the golds and I’m ready to do it. I feel good as I have clocked better times than the Vietnamese swimmers in the 200m,” said Welson, who has a personal best of 1:47.67 in 200m.

Welson has a personal best of 15:31.00 in 1,500m but Vietnam’s Nguyen Huu Kim Son will start as favourite for gold in the KL Games.

Kim Son set his country’s national record after clocking 15:29.90 in the World Aquatic Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last month.