PETALING JAYA: Dubai-based teenager Nadia Lim announced her arrival at the doorsteps of Malaysian swimming with a new national record performance.
The 15-year-old just missed out on a second individual medal for Malaysia after finishing fourth in the girls’ Group B 100m freestyle final at the Asian Age-Group Aquatics in Bangkok yesterday.
But she was still all smiles after looking up at the clock as her time of 57.11s saw her erasing the current national record of 57.35s held by Eliza Tan.
Li Jia Rui of China won the race in 55.44s.
Eliza, swimming for Selangor, had just set the national record at the Singapore Age-Group Championships in late May, erasing the four-year-old mark of 57.59s held by Loo Yie Bing.
It was at her Malaysian Open debut in Bukit Jalil in April when Nadia had threatened to obliterate the national record after winning the event in 57.59s.
Nadia said she was pleased with her performance although she missed a medal.
“At the Malaysian Open, I could have gone out a little bit faster. I was a bit disappointed to miss it (national record at the home meet then) but I knew I would definitely do better next time.
“And this time, I was able to pull it off. All the hard work paid off and I’m just feeling so happy,” said Nadia who grew up in Dubai and also trains there.
Nadia, who already holds the national short course records for the 100m and 200m freestyle, had already won a bronze for Malaysia in the 200m freestyle event earlier.
She clocked 2:04.64s in the 200m freestyle final, just outside the current national record of 2:03.22s held by Khoo Cai Lin since 2013.
Koo Shyann took home the only silver in the boys’ Group C 100m breaststroke (1:08.60s) and bronze in the 50m butterfly (26.31s).
Loo Cheng Feng earned a bronze in the boys’ Group B 100m freestyle (51.50s) while the fourth bronze medal for Malaysia was won in the boys’ Group C 4x100m freestyle final (3:44.09s).
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