FRAIDDEN Dawan won a fifth straight men’s 400m freestyle (S10) title while James Wong smashed a 12-year-old record in the 100m butterfly (S8) to provide the golden splash for Malaysia on the third day of the Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games swimming competition.
(S10: swimmers have either lost the use of one hand or have movement restrictions in one hip joint; S8: For swimmers with joint restrictions in one limb or with double below-the-knee amputations).
Sarawakian Fraidden clocked 4:48.35 to improve on his own Games record of 4:55.99 set at the 2015 Singapore Games.
Tangkilisan Steven Sualang of Indonesia was second in 5:01.59 while Thai Suphat Punsiri got the bronze in 5:20.37.
The 30-year-old Fraidden has monopolised the 400m freestyle since the 2009 Laos Games, but yesterday’s win was especially significant as it was achieved in his daughter Evangelina Marian-sha’s presence.
“My daughter is only 14 months old and this is the first time she has come to see me compete.
“I’m pleased that I lowered my own Games record,” said Fraidden, who lost his right leg after it was crushed by a log while helping his dad collect firewood in Bintulu in 2000.
James, who was born with part of his left arm missing, won the 100m butterfly in 1:12.94 to break the previous mark of 1:30.23 set by compatriot D. Kulek in Manila in 2005.
Filipino Ernie Agat Gawilan (1:19.86) clinched the silver and Vietnam’s Nguyen Quang Vuong (1:23.63) the bronze.
Julius Jaranding completed his three-silver medal haul when he finished second in his final event in the (SB13) 100m breaststroke.
Julius, who is visually im-paired, clocked 1:20.51 to finish behind Indonesian Marinus Melianus Yowei, who set a new Games record of 1:14.57.
Marinus bettered his old record of 1:14.79 set in 2015.
Malaysia’s medal tally in swimming now stands at five golds, eight silvers and six bronzes. The competition continues today with 22 golds up for grabs.
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