AFTER a slow start on Monday, Malaysian para swimmers bounced back to win three gold medals, two silver and three bronze at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil on Tuesday (Sept 19).
Anas Zul Amirul Sidi won the 100m freestyle (S14 – intellectual disability) in a new Games record, Yoong Chung Wei ruled in the 50m butterfly (S14) and Jamery Siga created waves in the 50m butterfly (S5 – short stature and an additional impairment).
There were a total of 15 gold medals contested on Tuesday.
The silver medals came through Jamery Siga (S5- 200m freestyle) and Julius Jaranding (S12 – 100m free style whilst Chan Zhi Weng Zadrian contributed bronze in the 100m freestyle (S14), Wong Tien Yu James (100m breaststroke meter) and Muhammad Nur Syaiful in the 50m butterfly (S5).
Anas clocked 55.79 seconds in the 100m freestyle – erasing the previous time of 1.01.38s set by Singaporean Benson Tan.
Malaysian para swimmers could only win four silver and two bronze out of the 20 events contested on the first day of competition on Monday.
The Indonesians continued to dominate the pool with three more gold medals on Tuesday – taking their tally to 14 gold medals, six silver and five bronze medals. The gold medallists are Aris Wibawa (Men’s 100m breaststroke – S7), Guntur (Men’s 100m breastroke – SB8) and Menaser Meriba Num (Men’s 100m fresstyle – S12).
Myanmar swimmers won three gold medals followed by Vietnam two whilst Singapore and Thailand grabbed one each.
Singapore’s Benson Tan Eng Kiong, 24, took home the gold medal in the Men’s 100m Backstroke S14 race on the fifth day of the 8th ASEAN Para Games.
With his timing of 1.12.30s, Tan finished first out of the seven swimmers, three of which were Singaporeans. Tan has won a gold, silver and bronze at this year’s Games. He also broke the Games record for the Men’s 200m Freestyle S14 (intellectual disability).”
WHAT THEY SAY:
“It has been a great moment for me today by winning the gold and also setting a new Games record. This came as a surprise. My father (Zul Amirul Sidi) has been a great inspiration to me and I dedicate this gold to him.” – ANAS ZUL, atlet
