Teen wonder grabs two golds and eyes SEA Games selection next

Simply sensational: Selangor’s (from left) Yoong Jia Jia, Chong Yuan Yi, Shannon Tan and Eliza Tan celebrating after winning the gold medal. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star

SHAH ALAM: Debutant Chong Yuan Yi has set her sights on breaking into the Malaysia SEA Games squad after pulling off a superb middle and long distance swimming double for hosts Selangor at the Malaysia Games (Sukma).

The 17-year-old powered to victory in the women’s 400m freestyle final at Akuatik Selangor in a new personal best mark of 4:29.70s.

Sarawak’s Kelly Teo, who bagged six golds at her home Games in 2024, was dethroned to the second spot with 4:33.52s while Penang’s Tan Rui Nee (4:34.06s) completed the podium.

Yuan Yi also helped Selangor to break a long standing Games record in the 4x200m freestyle relay yesterday.

The quartet of Yuan Yi, Yoong Jia Jia, Shannon Tan and Eliza Tan completed the race in 8:36.12s to erase the previous record of 8:40.95s held by Sarawak since 2012.

Yuan Yi broke down in tears of joy after finishing the race and said it was a meaningful win.

“It means a lot to me and my team. I am really happy to win another gold in my first Sukma,” said Yuan Yi, who started to swim at seven.

“I was really nervous before the race, I placed a lot of pressure on myself as I was the top seed and my team were counting on me to bring back the gold. I did not want to let them down.

“I worked really hard for this and I got a new personal best as well. My previous PB (4:31s) was set in April this year.”

She now has collected four gold medals having also featured for Selangor in the 4x100m freestyle event on Friday.

Yuan Yi has her eyes set on the Olympic Games but first, she wants to make the cut for next year’s Malaysia SEA Games.

“It would mean a lot for me to win a medal for Malaysia on home ground at the SEA Games.”

National swimmer Mohd Dhuha Zulfikry’s bid for a double victory was dashed by Goh Li Hen of Selangor.

Li Hen posted 55.86s to snatch the boys’ 100m butterfly title ahead of Dhuha, who settled for silver in 55.96s.

The 18-year-old Dhuha, however, made up for it by finishing first in his pet 400m freestyle race in 4:00.52s ahead of Penang’s Samuel Lai (4:06.45s) and Aslan Adnan of Selangor (4:08.56s).

Dhuha had won the 200m and 1,500m freestyle events earlier in the week.