Yi Ting up for for three events in Laos Games

By LIM TEIK HUAT

PETALING JAYA: Swimmer Siow Yi Ting is shaping up well up for a triple assault for Malaysia in the Laos SEA Games in December.

She beat the Games qualifying mark in three events – the 100m and 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley – in the just concluded Santa Clara Invitational in California.

Siow Yi Ting

Yi Ting, who is based in the United States on a University of Arkansas swimming scholarship, finished among the top 20 in the events as she kicked off her preparations for the SEA Games.

The 24-year-old clocked 2:17.88 for 12th spot in the 200m individual medley on Sunday and the effort was just outside her national mark of 2:16.92 set in 2006. But it was better than her 2006 Korat SEA Games gold medal-winning time of 2:18.52.

In the 100m breaststroke, Yi Ting fell just short of her national record of 1:11.29 set in the 2006 Doha Asian Games when she posted 1:11.62 for 19th place.

She clocked 2:31.81 for a 13th place in the 200m breaststroke and the time was not far from her national record of 2:27.80 posted at the Beijing Olympics last year.

The SEA Games qualifying marks for the breaststroke events are 1:12.65 for the 100m distance and 2:32.55 for the 200m race.

The Santa Clara meet is one of the prestigious swimming competitions held during the summer break in the US.

Having qualified on merit, Yi Ting can start working on her bid to regain the two breaststroke titles she lost to Nicolette Teo of Singapore in the Korat SEA Games. Then, Yi Ting only managed one gold and three silver medals in four individual events.

The Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia (Asum) secretary, Edwin Chong, said that the hope was on Yi Ting to regain her status as the top female breaststroke swimmer in the region.

“She is a good bet to deliver at least two gold medals in the 200m breaststroke and 200m individual medley,” he said.

“It will be harder for her in the 100m breaststroke and 400m individual medley as her rivals have competitive times as well.

“Yi Ting will return next month to train here before she leaves for the World Championships in Rome in July.”

The other Malaysian swimmers for the world championships are Daniel Bego, Foo Jian Beng, Khoo Cai Lin and Marellyn Liew.