Khiew races to defend 200m freestyle title

Too fast: Khiew Hoe Yean en route to winning the men’s 200m freestyle final. His compatriot Arvin Shaun Singh came in third. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

BANGKOK: After four days of frustration at the pool, Khiew Hoe Yean finally brought joy for Malaysia as he secured a third consecutive SEA Games gold in the men’s 200m freestyle.

And to add to the celebrations, teammate Arvin Shaun Singh claimed bronze after clocking 1:50.43.

Hoe Yean powered to victory in 1:48.64, narrowly ahead of Vietnam’s Van Nguyen Quoc Tra, in 1:48.70, at the Huamark Aquatic Centre.

It was Malaysia’s first gold in swimming at the Games.

For Hoe Yean, it was a memorable hattrick having won at the 2021 Hanoi and 2023 Cambodia editions.

The 23-year-old said the pressure of defending his title pushed him to perform even better.

“This is a hard event. The 200m free(style) is somehow like a sprint event,” said Hoe Yean.

“I’m right in between there. I think what motivated me most was defending the title.

“That is the hardest thing in sport because it gives you pressure and nervous. I felt really nervous and excited today but managed to turn it into motivation.”

It was not his fastest time but Hoe Yean was still happy.

“It’s not my best time. I did better in the relay – 1:48.48 but I think at this point, winning is more important.

“I think I did pretty well and the Vietnamese (Van Nguyen) gave me a good race,” said Hoe Yean.

“My teammate finished on the podium as well.

“I’m really glad that there is 1-3 (a gold and a bronze) for Malaysia for this event.

There was a measure of joy elsewhere too as Phee Jinq En added another silver medal after finishing second in the women’s 100m breaststroke.

Jinq En clocked 1:10.09 to finish four seconds behind Singapore’s Letitia Sim, who stormed to gold in 1:06.79, while Vietnam’s Thuy Hien Nguyen settled for bronze in 1:10.40.

Malaysians unless stated

Men

100m butterfly: 1. Quah Zheng Wen (Sin) 52.25, 2. Joe Aditya Wijaya (Ina) 53.14., 3. Surasit Thongdeang (Tha) 53.32. Selected: 5. Bryan Leong 53.86.

200m freestyle: 1. Khiew Hoe Yean 1:48.64, 2. Van Nguyen Quoc Tra (Vie) 1:48.70, 3. Arvin Shaun Singh 1:50.43.

Women

100m backstroke: 1. Kayla Noelle Sanchez (Phi) 1:02.35, 2. Mia Millar (Tha) 1:02.52, 3. Flairene Candrea (Ina) 1:02.60. Selected: 6. Chong Xin Lin 1:04.30, 8. Vivian Tee 1:05.35.

100m breaststroke: 1. Letitia Sim (Sin) 1:06.79, 2. Phee Jinq En 1:10.09, 3. Thuy Hien Nguyen (Vie) 1:10.40.

100m butterfly: 1. Quah Ting Wen (Sin) 59.76, 2. Quah Jing Wen (Sin) 59.77, 3. Napatsawan Jaritkla (Tha) 1:01.57. Selected: 5. Lim Shun Qi 1:01.89, 8. Shannon Tai Yan Qing 1:02.96.

400m individual medley: 1. Kamonchanok Kwanmuang (Tha) 4:46.30, 2. Thi My Tien Vo (Vie) 4:47.39, 3. Jinjutha Pholjamjumrus (Tha) 4:47.62. Selected: 8. Yoong Jia Jia 5:20.84.