KUALA LUMPUR: Chong Xin Lin and Terence Ng set the pool at the National Aquatics Centre ablaze today by breaking two national records each on the final day of the first Malaysia Aquatics Short Course Swimming Championships.
Xin Lin, 17, representing DSA Swimming Club, had in the morning prelims, torpedoed the women's 200m backstroke record with 2:19.18 seconds.
In the final, she demolished that record by posting 2:13.61s to win gold, ahead of Paris Olympics-bound Tan Rou Xin of Kelab Renang Ezy (2:26.48s) and Rainne Foo of Kota Permai Golf and Country Club Swim team (2:29.00s).
Less than 30 minutes later, she returned to the pool for the 100m individual medley and broke the record set by Phee Jinq En in the morning prelims.
Jinq En posted 1:04.37s in the earlier session, and Xin Lin bettered that record by recording 1:02.77s in the finals.
Two-time Olympian Jinq En of DSAS Swim Club was second with 1:02.94s and teammate Lim Shun Qi was third with 1:05.05s.
"I had aimed to break the records, coming into the tournament and I'm very happy I managed to do it," she said.
Terence, 24, representing Pade-Supersharkz Swimming Club, smashed Chan Jie's men's 100m freestyle record of 49.44s set last year by clocking 49.02s.
Lim Yin Chuen of Penang Chinese Swimming Club was second with 49.27s, and two-time Olympian Welson Sim completed the podium (49.56s).
Terence then returned to the pool for the 100m individual medley, and duly broke his own record of 56.79s set in the morning prelims by registering 55.95s. In the final, he bettered that time by clocking 55.49 to win gold, while Jayden Tan of DSA Swimming Club finished second (55.89s) and Andrew Goh was third (55.99s).
"I didn't expect to break the national record, but I've done well to achieve it. I just focused on myself, removed all negative thoughts and gave my all.
"In the next few months I will head to a few World Cup events around October, and from there I hope to qualify for the short course world championships in December," said the Selangor swimmer.
Khew Zi Xian, representing Pade-Supersharkz Swimming Club, got in on the record-breaking act in the women's 100m freestyle. The 16-year-old broke her own record of 58.45s set last year by posting 56.99s in the finals. Teammate Morgan Eleven Teo was second with 57.92s and Wong Shi Qi of Pahang Aquatics Association was third (58.13s).
