KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor’s Khoo Cai Lin capped a perfect end to her Malaysian Open campaign by becoming the first Malaysian swimmer to qualify on merit for the World Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
The Laos SEA Games gold medallist smashed the previous meet record of 8:49.04, held by China’s Zheng Jing since 2002, to win the 800m freestyle final in 8:48.53.
On form: Cai Lin on her way to breaking the 800m freestyle record at the Malaysian Open yesterday. - AZHAR MAHFOF / The Star The 21-year-old Cai Lin breezed to the finish line by more than one body length ahead of nearest rival Cheng Yuen Yue of Hong Kong to dip inside next year’s World Championships qualifying mark of 8:48.70.
The World Championships, to be held in Shanghai in July next year, are the first to apply qualifying times on the individual entries.
It was her fourth gold medal of the meet and she undeniably stamped her mark as the best middle and long distance swimmer in the region.
Cai Lin had won the 200m and 400m freestyles and the 200m individual medley earlier.
But meeting the World Championships qualifying standards means more to her and show that she is on the right track towards the Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year.
“I tried to beat the qualifying times for the world meet in the 400m freestyle yesterday but could not,” she said.
“I’m happy I managed to do it on the last day of competition.
“I’m mixing training and studies at the moment and I’m still taking things easy.
“But I will put in more hours towards the middle half of the year as I have to get ready for the Commonwealth and Asian Games,” added Cai Lin, who has already qualified on merit for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in October and Guangzhou Asiad in November.
There was no joy, however, for Sabah swimmer Marellyn Liew on the final day of competition.
Her bid for a double in the butterfly discipline sank after she was disqualified for a false start in the 100m distance.
Marellyn was the first to touch home in 1:03.56 but, to her dismay, it was second-placed Wong Yee Ching of Hong Kong (1:03.91), who was declared the winner.
Other Malaysian winners yesterday were Foo Jian Beng and Chui Lai Kwan, who won the men’s and women’s 50m freestyle races respectively.
Jian Beng splashed to victory for Selangor in 23.83, outside his national mark of 23.45 set in the Terengganu Sukma in 2008, while Lai Kwan earned the gold for Sabah in 26.71.
Star
The Laos SEA Games gold medallist smashed the previous meet record of 8:49.04, held by China’s Zheng Jing since 2002, to win the 800m freestyle final in 8:48.53.
On form: Cai Lin on her way to breaking the 800m freestyle record at the Malaysian Open yesterday. - AZHAR MAHFOF / The StarThe World Championships, to be held in Shanghai in July next year, are the first to apply qualifying times on the individual entries.
It was her fourth gold medal of the meet and she undeniably stamped her mark as the best middle and long distance swimmer in the region.
Cai Lin had won the 200m and 400m freestyles and the 200m individual medley earlier.
But meeting the World Championships qualifying standards means more to her and show that she is on the right track towards the Commonwealth and Asian Games later this year.
“I tried to beat the qualifying times for the world meet in the 400m freestyle yesterday but could not,” she said.
“I’m happy I managed to do it on the last day of competition.
“I’m mixing training and studies at the moment and I’m still taking things easy.
“But I will put in more hours towards the middle half of the year as I have to get ready for the Commonwealth and Asian Games,” added Cai Lin, who has already qualified on merit for the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in October and Guangzhou Asiad in November.
There was no joy, however, for Sabah swimmer Marellyn Liew on the final day of competition.
Her bid for a double in the butterfly discipline sank after she was disqualified for a false start in the 100m distance.
Marellyn was the first to touch home in 1:03.56 but, to her dismay, it was second-placed Wong Yee Ching of Hong Kong (1:03.91), who was declared the winner.
Other Malaysian winners yesterday were Foo Jian Beng and Chui Lai Kwan, who won the men’s and women’s 50m freestyle races respectively.
Jian Beng splashed to victory for Selangor in 23.83, outside his national mark of 23.45 set in the Terengganu Sukma in 2008, while Lai Kwan earned the gold for Sabah in 26.71.
Star
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