Young ’uns to the fore
Jing Fu and Co make huge waves in the pool
NG JING FU splashed to a surprise double and a new Games record as he joined a host of youngsters to make heads turn on the penultimate day of swimming competition at the Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre.
Jing Fu powered to his second gold for Selangor by beating training partner Ng Yi Hao in the boys’ 200m breaststroke final in Ipoh last night.
Jing Fu held off Yi Hao to finish in 2:17.47, erasing the previous record of 2:19.12 set by fellow Selangor swimmer Daniel Lim at the last Games in Kuching two years ago.
Yi Hao settled for his second silver medal in 2:19.61. He finished second behind Jing Fu in the 100m breaststroke on Monday.
“We train together and there was pressure on us to contribute medals for Selangor,” said the 16-year-old. “I am happy I stepped up and also finished with a personal best time even though it’s my first Sukma outing.”
Terengganu also celebrated a rare gold from swimming with Australia-based swimmer Arvin Shaun Singh winning the boys’ 400m freestyle.
The 17-year-old Arvin, who is studying in Brisbane, clocked a winning time of 4:00.59 to beat Tan Tsien Ee of Selangor, who posted 4:06.56.
Terengganu have not produced a winner in the pool since Carmen Ooi splashed to three gold medals when they hosted the Sukma in 2008 and Arvin was happy to be the one to end the drought.
“Terengganu have been very kind to me and they offered to support my training and studies, so I am happy to be able to contribute something.
“I worked really hard to get this gold medal. I’m so happy as I got two silvers earlier,” said Arvin, who came in second in the 200m freestyle and 200m individual medley earlier in the week.
Alicia Ann Li Soosai emerged as the best junior girl breaststroker in the country with her win in the 200m distance for Johor (2:42.40).
It was the third gold medal for the 14-year-old, who made a clean sweep of the breaststroke titles for 50m, 100m and 200m distances.
Penang girl Elynn Tan Yilin claimed her fourth gold medal of the Games after winning the 100m butterfly race in 1:03.13. The 18-year-old won the 50m backstroke, 50m butterfly and 100 freestyle events earlier.
Sabah also had much to cheer after Hollymax Bell produced an upset win in the boys’ 100m butterfly.
Hollymax clocked 56.55 to beat Selangor favourite Jordan Yip, who posted 56.81, to his first gold medal.
Sabah failed to win a single gold medal in swimming in Kuching two years ago.