CHUA Lai Kwan set a new national record en route to qualifying for the women's 50m freestyle final at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games yesterday.
Lai Kwan, 24, clocked 26.00s in her heat to sneak into the semi-finals, which were contested late yesterday. Her previous record was 26.02s.
While Lai Kwan was not expected to make the final, having qualified as the 15th fastest of the 16 semi-finalists, it was a commendable achievement as the swimmer is no longer part of the Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia's programme.
Lai Kwan had created history in the 2010 Games when she became the first Malaysian woman to qualify for a final, which she achieved in the 100m freestyle.
There was not much cheer elsewhere in the pool as Lim Ching Hwang clocked 1:51.39s in the men’s 200m freestyle to finish seventh in his heat. Kevin Yeap clocked 1:51.42 and both failed to advance.Shaun Yap clocked 1:06.49s in the 100m breaststroke heats.
In table tennis, the Malaysian women beat Jamaica 3-0 for their third win of the group stage. The Malaysians beat Papua New Guinea 3-0 in their opening match but went the distance in their second tie, played late on Thursday, as they overcame Canada 3-2.
The three wins meant Malaysia topped Group F to advance to the quarter-finals.
The men played Saint Lucia late yesterday after having started their campaign with a 3-0 win over Zambia and then losing 3-2 to Australia late on Thursday.
In squash, Nicol David advanced to the quarter-finals after an easy 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 win over Megan Craig of New Zealand in a second round clash. Nicol had beaten Vanessa Florens of Mauritius 11-6, 11-2, 11-1 in the first round late on Thursday.
Low Wee Wern, who advanced after a 11-1, 11-2, 11-2 win over Eilidh Bridgeman of the Cayman Islands in the first round on Thursday, played Tesni Evan of Wales late yesterday while Delia Arnold, the third Malaysian in the draw, was up against India's Dipika Pallikal, also late yesterday.
In hockey, the Malaysian women, who opened their campaign with a 4-0 defeat to raging favourites Australia on Thursday, played Scotland in a late match yesterday.
The men open their Group B campaign against Canada today and team manager Tai Beng Hai said it was difficult to predict the outcome.
“Canada have improved while we are here with a mixed squad. We will take it one match at a time,” said Beng Hai.
Also in Malaysia’s group are England, New Zealand and Trinidad & Tobago. Canada were beaten 3-1 by New Zealand in their opening match on Thursday while England thrashed Trinidad & Tobago 6-1.