Sinking feeling as swimmer Jing En forced to miss world meet again

PETALING JAYA: Two-time Olympian breaststroker Phee Jinq En has lost a crucial tune-up opportunity for the Hangzhou Asian Games in two months time as she is not swimming in the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan.

Jinq En announced on her social media account her withdrawal from the squad for the ongoing world meet due to health issues.

The swimming competition will run from July 23-30 and is also a qualifying meet for the Paris Olympics next year.

It is the second time in a row that the Selangor-born swimmer is forced to sit out the world meet.

Jinq En also made the qualifying times for her pet 50m and 100m breaststroke events in the previous world meet in Budapest last year but tested positive just days before her events were due to start and had to be quarantined in her room.

“Unfortunately, due to health complications, I am out of the world championships bound to happen in Fukuoka next week. Totally bummed after a solid few months of training and also missing the worlds last year too due to Covid but it is what it is.

“Funny that I have qualified for the worlds five times but have only raced in it twice throughout my career.

“I guess the world meet is really just not meant to be for me. Right now, the goal is to recover well and shift my focus to the Asian Games in September. I’ll be back,” said the determined woman swimmer.

Jinq En’s absence means Malaysia will not have any woman representative in Fukuoka.

It will be an all-male team for the world meet instead, with Cambodia SEA Games 200m freestyle champion Khiew Hoe Yean leading the way.

Hoe Yean qualified on merit for five events - 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle as well as 200m backstroke while Bryan Leong will swim his pet 50m and 100m butterfly events.

Cambodia SEA Games double bronze medallist Jayden Tan also made the cut for the 200m and 400m individual medley while Andrew Goh will be on duty in the 50m and 100m breaststroke.