A record to build on

In sync: Khiew Hoe Yean, Jayden Tan Khai Xin, Arvin Shaun Singh and Ananda Lim Yin Chuen in action.

KUALA LUMPUR: It is a national record worth celebrating but swimming coach Michael Kinross believes there is still plenty more to come.

The American hailed the progress shown by Malaysia’s men’s 4x200m freestyle quartet led by Khiew Hoe Yean, after their record-breaking performance in the Asian Games at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.

He, however, stressed that the team cannot afford to rest on their laurels.

“We are excited about the swim and the progress we have made in my first four-and-a-half months here,” said Kinross, who was appointed in May.

“Breaking this record was a goal from the very beginning.

“We are going to celebrate the accomplishment but we also know we have more to achieve, both this week and also in the future.”

Hoe Yean set a scorching 1:48.73s to help the men’s quartet to finish fifth with a national record time of 7:18.79s in the final. It was the first national record for Malaysia at the Asian Games.

Double Thailand SEA Games champion Hoe Yean was joined by his teammates Arvin Shaun Singh, Ananda Lim Yin Chuen and Jayden Tan Khai Xin who also did their part to lower the previous national record of 7:19.50s set at the Thailand SEA Games last year.

Hoe Yean, Terence Ng, Arvin and Ananda set the national record in Thailand last year when they won silver behind Vietnam.

Vietnam overtook Malaysia in the last 100m of the final race to finish fourth in 7:18.09s.

China, led by Olympic champion Pan Zhanle, set a new Asian record in winning gold with 7:00.17s.

Japan took silver in 7:01.05s while South Korea, the winner in Hangzhou three years ago, settled for bronze with 7:06.76s.

Malaysia quartet had made the final after finishing third in Heat 2 with a time of 7:22.05s behind Japan (7:13.02s) and China (7:11.70s).

National record holder Andrew Goh, however, endured a disappointing outing in the men’s 100m breaststroke heats.

He clocked 1:03.50s to finish seventh in Heat 3 and 23rd overall, missing the final.

Andrew holds the national record of 1:01.39s, which he set at the Malaysia Games in Sarawak two years ago.

Malaysia were also left without a representative in the men’s 50m freestyle final.

Ananda clocked 23.16s to finish seventh in Heat 3 while national record holder Tong Yu Jing did not start after falling ill.

RESULTS

Men

50m freestyle heat 3: 1. Ji Yu-chan (Kor) 22.23, 2. Zaben Emad (Ksa) 22.24, 3. Mikkel Lee (Sin) 22.30. Selected: 7. Ananda Lim Yin Chuen (Mas) 23.16.

100m breaststroke heat 3: 1. Shin Ohashi Shin (Jpn) 59.38, 2. Choi Dong-yeol (Kor) 59.53, 3. Adam Sai Ting (Hkg) 1:00.25. Selected: 7. Andrew Goh (Mas) 1:03.50.

4x200m freestyle

Heat 2: 1. China 7:11.70, 2. Japan 7:13.02, 3. Malaysia 7:22.05.

Final: 1. China 7:00.17, 2. Japan 7:01.05, 3. South Korea 7:06.76. Selected: 5. Malaysia 7:18.79.