Jinq En can’t believe she’ll be competing in fifth SEA Games

Pretty impressive: Phee Jinq En has contributed three SEA Games gold medals from 2015 to 2019.

KUALA LUMPUR: Woman breaststroker Phee Jinq En cannot believe that she is going for her fifth SEA Games next month.

The 25-year-old Jinq En said it just seemed like it was not too long ago when she made her Games debut in Singapore in 2015.

“I was about 16 going to 17 and I went there with no expectations. But I managed to come back with a gold medal from my debut SEA Games,” said the two-time Olympian.

“I never imagined that I will still be swimming competitively 10 years later and compete in my fifth SEA Games.

“I’m going to the Cambodia SEA Games to enjoy myself and try to keep my expectations in check,” said Jinq En.

She is slated to compete in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke.“I might also compete in the new relay event – 4x100m freestyle mixed relay – that is if national coach Chris Martin needs my services.”

Jinq En has contributed three SEA Games gold medals from 2015 to 2019.

It was in Manila in 2019 where she enjoyed her best SEA Games outing. She won gold in the 50m and 100m breaststroke as well as a bronze in the 200m distance.

However, Jinq En lost to a younger rival in the form of Singapore’s Letitia Sim in the previous SEA Games in Hanoi last year.

She settled for silver behind United States-based Letitia in the 100m breaststroke and the Singaporean will start as the favourite again in Phnom Penh.

Jinq En showed she was shaping up well when she won the women’s 100m breaststroke Open event in the Malaysia Invitational Age-Group Swimming Championships at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.

Jinq En clocked 1:10.99 while Indonesians Adelia Adel came in second (1:11.17) and Monica Sari finished third (1:13.97).

Jing En later swam the 50m freestyle and bagged bronze in 27.51.

It was a 1-2 finish for Indonesia swimmers as Angel Gabriella (27.19) and Karmelita Muslim (27.37) won the gold and silver respectively.

“I swam the 50m freestyle for fun.

“I will not be eligible next year because the Open category is between the ages of 18-25.

“I will be 26 next year,” she said.