KUALA LUMPUR – Sarawak swimmer Hii Puong Wei is eyeing a podium finish at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia after a golden success at the 20th Malaysia Games (Sukma) men’s 100m breaststroke held at the National Aquatic Centre, Bukit Jalil here today.
With a record of 1m 3.95s, the 18-year-old swam past statesman Job Tan Xi Jay who recorded 1m 4.05s to come in second place and Kuala Lumpur’s Khiew Tze Yean in third place (1m 4.06s).
“The result was quite shocking for me because I have been stuck in the 1m 4s time for quite a long time (during training).
“Finally, I managed to break it and I am very happy that I did it,” he said.
Puong Wei also took home a bronze medal for his home state in the 50m breaststroke with a record of 27.46s.
However, he came in fourth place when he participated in the same event at the 2021 Hanoi SEA Games held in May.
“I have been training non-stop for the past few years.
“The results proved that I could go further.
“So, I would like to continue my hard work and aim for a podium finish in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia,” said Puong Wei when met after the event.
He credited his success to his coach, Zhang Hong Bo, who helped him overcome his doubts and control his focus.
In the men’s 200m freestyle, Selangor athlete Terence Ng recorded his personal best of 1m 51.29s, beating Tan Khai Xin of Kuala Lumpur who came in second (1m 52.46s) followed by Melaka’s Low Zheng Yong (1m 53.83).
The victory was a step up from his Sukma in 2018 when he walked away with a bronze medal in the same category.
The 21-year-old was also in the 4x200m freestyle quartet alongside Welson Sim, Zheng Yong, and Sebastion Soon that won gold at the Asean University Games held in July.
In other events, Arvin Shaun Singh Chahal of Terengganu won gold in the men’s 50m backstroke, while men’s 400m individual medley gold medal went to Kuala Lumpur’s Tan Khai Xin. – The Vibes, September 19, 2022
