Classy Chan Jie

FITTING END: Selangor ace bids farewell by bettering 100m butterfly record

CHAN Jie is well on the way to filling the void left by Daniel Bego after bettering the Malaysia Games men’s 100m butterfly record yesterday.

The Selangor ace clocked 54.80s at the Sarawak State Aquatics Complex to retain his gold and better the meet record of 55.04s.

Federal Territories’ Keith Lim and Tan Yun Hung came in second and third on 55.44s and 55.96s respectively.

Chan Jie, who has won seven gold since the 2012 Games, said it was a fitting end to his last Malaysia Games as he sets his sights on bigger prizes in the future.

“I am quite satisfied with my performance today as I met all my expectations.

“Of course I want to beat Daniel’s national record in this event, hopefully that will help me get a spot in the Malaysia Sea Games next year.

“I am confident I can dip under 54s by the end of the year and perhaps get the (national) record before the Sea Games.”

Malaysia has been lacking a strong butterfly swimmer since Daniel’s struggle with injuries. The national record in the 100m stands at 53.33s which the Sarawakian set in 2009.

Chan Jie’s Selangor teammate Daniel Lim was also in potent form, clocking a new games record of 2:19.12s en route to the 200m breaststroke gold.

It erased the last of Elvin Chia’s long standing records at the Malaysia Games. The Sabahan’s former record of 2:19.17s was set at the 1996 games.

Selangor’s Tan Yun Hung, Jordan Yip, Yeap Zheng Yang and Daniel also broke Sarawak’s Games record (7:47.31s, 2014) in the 4x200m freestyle relay.

The quartet lopped over three seconds off the old record as they powered to gold in 7:43.67s. Zheng Yang also won the 400m freestyle in 3:59.51s.

The women’s events witnessed Selangor's Yap Siew Hui (1:03.94s) winning the 100m butterfly while Sarawak duo Angela Chieng (4:29.49s) and Erika Kong (2:39.23s) emerged victorious in the 400m freestyle and 200m breaststroke.

Erika and Angela later teamed up with Cindy Sui and Leong Wan Mei to help Sarawak to the 4x200m freestyle relay gold in 8:46.68s.

Selangor, who won five gold out of the eight on offer yesterday, led the swimming medal table with 16 gold, 12 silver and eight bronze. Sarawak were second on 6-3-2 while FT were third on 4-12-7.