Yu Jing takes positives despite missing title

Penang’s Tong Yu Jing. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star

 

PETALING JAYA: Bronze was better than coming away empty-handed.

National record holder Tong Yu Jing may have missed out on the 50m freestyle title at the Malaysian Invitational Age-Group Championships, but he admitted he was still satisfied with his performance.

The 21 year old clocked 23.56s to finish third, behind gold medal winner Jason Donovan of Indonesia (23.27s) and Hong Kong’s To Siu (23.37s).

"Honestly, it was not as good as I wanted. But I guess it is a good start because I only just came back from the SEA Games and had three weeks of training. I think I cannot expect too much at this stage," said Yu Jing.

Reflecting on the moment he shattered the 22-year old national record at the SEA Games in Thailand last December in the same event, Yu Jing said he always believed he was capable of doing it, but did not expect to also come away with a bronze medal on his debut at the biennial Games.

He has qualified for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July but his lifelong dream is to qualify for the Olympic Games.

Ironically, Yu Jing revealed that despite being involved in competitive swimming from a young age, he never really had an idol.

 

However, the name of Welson Sim often came up during his primary school years, even though he did not know how the swimmer looked like.

"I don’t have any idol. When I was young, I didn’t know about social media or anything. I just knew ‘this guy swims fast.’ I knew the names, but I didn’t know the faces.

"I was just focused on myself. I wanted to keep going, keep improving every year.

"My ultimate goal is to go to the Olympics. I told myself I just need to endure this for a few more years.

"I know for swimming, I cannot compete until I’m 40. So I focus on working hard first,” he added.