Khiew’s focus on Commonwealth Games and Asiad after seven-gold show at home

Eyeing bigger splash: Khiew Hoe Yean won the Malaysian Open men’s 200m individual medley with a time of 2:04.05s.

PETALING JAYA: National swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean has more in store after wrapping up a stellar run at the Malaysian Open with his seventh gold medal at Bukit Jalil yesterday.

The 23-year-old won the men’s 200m individual medley with a time of 2:04.05s to finish ahead of Sarawak’s Hii Puong Wei with 2:05.09s and Goh Li Hen of Selangor in third with 2:08.42s.

Hoe Yean added to his earlier wins in the 100m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 200m freestyle, 200m backstroke, 400m individual medley and 400m freestyle.

Despite the impressive haul, he believes he has more to deliver as he continues to aim for personal bests.

“It’s still early in the year right now, and I haven’t gone into race-specific work yet. What we’re working on right now is building a base,” said Hoe Yean.

“My timings in the 200m and 400m events were not the best, but it shows I’m in a good state to handle the workload heading into the season.”

Hoe Yean added that the primary focus this year would be the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games from Sept 19-Oct 4, but the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before that from July 23-Aug 2 will be just as important.

However, Hoe Yean added that although they have not discussed the qualification criteria yet, there is a possibility that the squad for the Commonwealth Games could be smaller.

“I would say the main focus is the Asian Games but at the same time, it’s not that the Commonwealth Games are any less important.

“It’s about how we prepare for both events because it requires a lot of planning.

“We have not received the criteria for the events yet, but I heard the Commonwealth Games could have a smaller squad, which could make it tough to qualify. But we’ll see,” said Hoe Yean.

Meanwhile, teenager Shannon Tan got her first gold after winning the women’s 200m butterfly event with a time of 2:15.72s, just 0.01s off her personal best.

The 16-year-old finished ahead of fellow Selangorian Misya Khor (2:20.91s) while India’s Sanithi Murherjee (2.21.80s) took third.

Shannon added to her medal tally after finishing second in the 100m butterfly and 400m individual medley.

FINAL RESULTS

Men

50m freestyle: 1. Tong Yu Jing (Pen) 22.99, 2. Felix Viktor Iberle (Ina) 23.02, Samuel Maxson Septionus (Ina) 23.27.

200m individual medley: 1. Khiew Hoe Yean (Kul) 2:04.05, 2. Hii Puong Wei (Swk) 2:05.09, Goh Li Hen (Sel) 2:08.42.

200m butterfly: 1. Low Zheng Yong (Mlk) 2:02.46, 2. Chang Saw Huai (Pen) 2:05.85, 3. Yi Liang Seoh (Pen) 2:07.83.

800m freestyle: 1. Mohd Dhuha Zulfikry (Kul) 8:13.90, 2. Lewis Mu (Kul) 8:30.68, 3. Samuel Lai (Pen) 8:36.13.

Women

50m freestyle: 1. Wong Shi Qi (Phg) 26.75, 2. Lee Wei Wen (Kul) 27.01, 3. Seah Shu Hui (Sel) 27.03.

200m individual medley: 1. Aw Yuet Ting (Pen) 2:21.31, 2. Tanishi Gupta (Ind) 2:22.18, 3. Chong Xin Lin (Kul) 2:23.66.

200m butterfly: 1. Shannon Tan (Sel) 2:15.72, 2. Mishya Khor (Sel) 2:20.91, 3. Sanithi Mukherjee (Ind) 2:21.80.

1,500m freestyle: 1. Chong Yuan Yi (Sel) 18:05.07, 2. Tan Rui Nee (Pen) 18:18.92, 3. Magdalene Lau (Swk) 18:26.79.