National swimmer Zeke Chan Zhi Yue. PHOTO: SECRETARIAT
National swimmer Zeke Chan Zhi Yue broke the national record in the men’s 200-metre (m) backstroke event after clocking 2:11.72s at the 7th Commonwealth Youth Games in Trinidad and Tobago on Tuesday.
The swimming talent shaved off the previous national record by 0.01s to achieve the feat and emulated her compatriot Hayley Wong Ann Yue in revising the national record.
The male swimmer had previously come close in setting a new national record in the international meet, but settled for a personal best in the men’s 100m freestyle event with a time of 54.39s.
Meanwhile, national athlete Hayley Wong set a new personal best in the women’s 100m breaststroke after registering a time of 1:20.45s, surpassing her previous mark of 1:21.63s.
The national record for the women’s 100m breaststroke remains unbroken at 1:19.74s.
Both national swimmers did not advance into the finals after finishing well outside of the qualifying places.
Scotland’s Matthew Ward struck the gold medal in the men’s 100m freestyle event after posting a time of 1:59.21s.
England’s Adam Graham settled for silver with a time of 2:02.05s while Northern Ireland’s Brandon Biss took bronze with a time of 2:03.84s.
In the women’s event, England’s Sienna Robinson won gold in the 100m breaststroke followed by Wales’ Theodora Taylor with silver and Northern Ireland’s Ellie McCartney with bronze.
The individual events continue with Joel Ling Thai Yu beginning his campaign in the men’s 200m individual medley (IM) while Hayley Wong and Sharmeen Mohammad Mharvin will be eyeing for the national record in the women’s 50m freestyle event.
The four national swimmers will also compete together in the mixed 4x100m medley relay. –Fadhil Yunus
