Hoe Yean yearning for more glory after MSSM exploits

PETALING JAYA: Teenager Khiew Hoe Yean showed he is ready to stake a claim for a place in the Philippines SEA Games in December after an impressive outing in the MSSM (national schools) swimming championships in Ipoh.

The 17-year-old from Kuala Lumpur saved his best for last to rake in two more gold medals to sign out with an astounding total of nine medals at the Tuanku Zara Aquatic Centre yesterday.

He claimed his seventh individual gold medal by winning the boys’ Open 400m freestyle event in 4:08.28.

Sarawak’s Hii Puong Wei came in second in 4:16.33 while Kuala Lumpur’s Zachary Lim finished third in 4:17.61. Hoe Yean also swam the first leg in Kuala Lumpur’s 4x100m freestyle relay winning quartet who finished in 3:38.38.

The nine-medal haul over five days of competition earned Hoe Yean the Outstanding Male Swimmer award.

Hoe Yean came out tops in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 100m and 200m freestyle and 400m individual medley. He was part of the winning KL quartet in the 4x100m medley on Wednesday and got a silver in the 200m individual medley.

Hoe Yean, who set two meet records in the 100m and 200m backstroke events, said the Malaysian Open swimming championships in Bukit Jalil at the end of next month will be his next focus.

“I am happy to swim fast in what is my last MSSM meet. I want to continue to improve each time I go for a competition. The Malaysian Open will be my next assignment and I hope to do well as it is a qualifying event for the December SEA Games. My pet event is the backstroke, so hopefully, I can make the mark,” said Hoe Yean, a double gold medallist for KL in his debut Sukma (Malaysia Games) in Ipoh last year.

Sabah’s Loo Yie Bing, who bagged a total of eight gold medals in the 7-12 age-group, picked up the Outstanding Female Swimmer award.

The 12-year-old, who is coached by 1998 Asian Games 100m breaststroke bronze medallist Elvin Chia in Sandakan, broke two meet records in the 50m and 100m freestyle events.