Nadia misses national mark by a whisker in Malaysian Open debut

Making waves: Perak’s Nadia Lim in action during the women’s 100m freestyle at the Malaysian Open. Inset: Nadia showing off her medal. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Teenager Nadia Lim announced herself as one of the nation’s brightest prospects in the pool after coming just 0.03s away from setting a new national record in her Malaysian Open debut.

The 16-year-old trailed in second place at the turn but closed strongly, posting 57.59s to win the women’s 100m freestyle gold medal at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil.

She just missed out on breaking Loo Yie Bing’s national record of 57.56s set back in 2022.

India’s Tanishi Gupta took silver in 58.17s while Wong Shi Qi from Pahang settled for bronze with 58.71s.

Perak swimmer Nadia Lim winning the gold medal women 100m freestyle event of the 68th Malaysian Open Swimming Championship 2026 at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil. — MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Start

Nadia lives and trains in Dubai but grew up in Ipoh. She was pleased to win a rare gold medal for Perak on the opening day of the competition.

“Honestly, I was aiming for the national record. I’m a bit disappointed to miss it but I will definitely try again,” said Nadia, who is also aiming to do well for Perak in the Sukma (Malaysia Games) in August.

“I’m happy though to swim a personal best in the 100m freestyle today.

“I still have other events and I look forward to doing well. I swim for Perak as both my parents are from there and I do go back to Ipoh when I am on school breaks.’’

Nadia already holds the national short course records for the 100m and 200m freestyle.

She first made waves in November last year when she clocked 56.84s in the 100m freestyle, bettering Khew Zi Xian’s previous mark of 56.99s set in July 2024.

Nadia went a step further by ending a 13-year national mark in the 200m freestyle at the Swim England National Winter Championships a month later after posting 2:03.38s.

She eclipsed Khoo Cai Lin’s long-standing 2:03.83s set at the 2013 FINA World Cup in Singapore.

Meanwhile, Thailand SEA Games double gold winner Khiew Hoe Yean also made a strong start to his Malaysia Open campaign, winning both events he entered for.

It was not his pet events but Hoe Yean was still the strongest swimmer out there for the men’s 100m freestyle and backstroke races.

Hoe Yean clocked a season best time of 50.46s to win the 100m freestyle ahead of fellow national swimmer Ananda Lim Yin Chuen (50.73s) and Samuel Maxson Septionus of Indonesia (52.09s).

Hoe Yean later returned to the pool to claim his second gold in the 100m backstroke, clocking 56.86s.

India’s Abhijit Sungar took silver in 59.81s ahead of Brunei swimmer Joel Ling, who clocked 1:00.28s.

Men

50m butterfly: 1. Chris Chew (Pen) 24.64, 2. Joshua Gabriel Ang (Phi) 24.85, 3. Rynhardt Steyn (Kul) 25.10.

100m freestyle: 1. Khiew Hoe Yean (Kul) 50.46, 2. Ananda Lim Yin Chuen (Pen) 50.73, 3. Samuel Maxson Septionus (Ina) 52.09.

100m backstroke: 1. Khiew Hoe Yean (Kul) 56.86, 2. Aman Abhijit Sungar (Ind) 59.81, 3. Joel Ling (Bru) 1:00.28.

200m breaststroke: 1. Cham Yu Xiang (Kul) 2:19.45, 2. Ng Xinxian Sophocles (Joh) 2:19.66, 3. Teo Zun Jet (Kul) 2:21.10.

Women

50m butterfly: 1. Tanishi Gupta (Ind) 27.89, 2. Wong Shi Qi (Pah) 28.09, 3. Natalie Suyin Buckley (Kul) 28.62.

100m freestyle: 1. Nadia Lim (Prk) 57.59, 2. Tanishi Gupta (Ind) 58.17, 3. Wong Shi Qi (Pah) 58.71.

100m backstroke: 1. Chong Xin Lin (Kul) 1:04.02, 2. Pratyasa Ray (Ind) 1:05.05, 3. Vivian Tee (Pen) 1:05.83.

200m breaststroke: 1. Aw Yuet Ting (Pen) 2:41.79, 2. Khoo Sue Enn (Sel) 2:41.90, 3. Jodie Yip (Mlk) 2:42.23.