WELSON SEEMS WELL-EQUIPPED FOR A GOOD ASIAD

Welson shows he’s ready for Asian Games after Europe high

PETALING JAYA: Swimmer Welson Sim (pic) showed he is ready for a splashing time at the Asian Games in Indonesia in August following good results in the just concluded Mare Nostrum Series in Europe.

Sarawak-born Welson bagged two silver medals for Malaysia in the middle distance freestyle events in the final leg of the series in Monaco.

Welson posted 3:52.37 for his first silver medal in the men’s 400m freestyle final behind Norway’s Henrik Christiansen, who came out tops in 3:51.07.

Interestingly, a potential Asian Games rival Takeda Shogo of Japan finished fourth (3:54.64) behind third-placed Jeremy Bagshaw of Canada (3:53.66).

Welson made another splash in the 200m freestyle event, clocking 1:49.54 for second place behind Katsuhiro Matsumoto of Japan (1:48.73).

Welson holds the national record of 1:47.36 for the 200m freestyle and 3:49.48 for the 400m distance.

Welson bagged a bronze medal in the 200m freestyle final in the second leg of the series in Barcelona, Spain two weeks ago.

The Malaysian swimmers did not take part in the first leg in Canet, France.

“Welson had some good racing against an extremely strong field as usual in the Mare Nostrum,” said swimming coach Paul Birmingham.

“These next six weeks of training will be crucial for him before we go to the Asian Games,”

Welson, a double gold medallist at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games last year, was not the only Malaysian making an impact in the much competitive European swim meet.

Keith Lim did well to set a new national mark in the men’s 50m freestyle event in Monaco.

Keith clocked 23.10 to break the previous national mark of 23.17 in the short sprint race held by Alwyn Tan since 2015. Keith’s effort saw him ranked 13th overall.

Tern Jian Han finished eighth in the men’s 50m backstroke (26.62) and seventh in the 100m distance (58.00).

Rio Olympian swimmer Phee Jinq En finished 10th in the women’s 100m breaststroke final (1:09.31).