Splashing comeback!
Hoe yean ends wait with unexpected gold
KHIEW Hoe Yean came to Vietnam planning to win the
gold medal in the 200m backstroke but had to settle for silver. But the fighter was not to be denied.
He overcame immense pressure to end the gold medal wait for Malaysia in the swimming competition by winning the men’s 200m freestyle event at My Dinh Aquatic Centre last night.
It was Malaysia’ first swimming gold in Hanoi.
Hoe Yean came good in the final 50m lap to win the race in 1:47.81 to salvage pride for the swimming camp.
He also regained the title that teammate Welson Sim had lost at the Philippines SEA Games in 2019.
Singapore’s Quah Zheng Wen, already a five-gold medallist so far, was beaten to second place in 1:48.20.
Vietnam’s Hoang Qu Phuoc, a former champion in the 200m freestyle, took third place in 2:02.89 while former champion Welson placed sixth in 1:50.63.
After settling for three silvers, Hoe Yean was all fired up to secure something better although it was not his main event.
“Honestly, I came here aiming for the 200m backstroke but I refused to give up despite failing. I felt good and I was really prepared for this Games.
“I was really hungry for the gold but I also tried to stay calm as I knew I was up against some pretty strong opponents,” said Hoe
Yean, who had taken bronze in 200m backstroke in debut in the Philippines 2019.
In Hanoi, he had bagged silver medals in the 200m backstroke, 400m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle.
He would have had a fourth silver in the 4x200m freestyle but the team was disqualified alongside Singapore during the weekend.
Malaysia have a chance to match their gold medal tally from the 2019 edition when woman breaststroke specialist Phee Jinq En makes a bid to defend her 100m breaststroke title on the final day of competition tonight.
The 25-year-old, however, has the odds stacked against her. Singaporean youngster Letitia Sim is in her way.
The 19-year-old dethroned Jinq En in the 50m breaststroke final on Monday as the Malaysian finished fifth.