MELAKA: Welson Sim closed his campaign in the Malaysia Open with a gold medal in the men's 1,500m freestyle event at the Hang Jebat Aquatic Centre on Sunday.
The Olympian posted a slow 15:23.50, but it was enough to win his fourth title in the competition after the 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events.
Welson was aiming to improve on his personal best of 15:31.10 set in March at the Singapore Age Group Championships.
The swimmer aims to break Jeffrey Ong' record of 15:23.61, set in 1991, by the end of this year.
"I think I did a decent race, as I was not expecting a personal best today," said Welson.
"I am satisfied with my form and hopefully, I can make inroads ahead of the Kuala Lumpur Sea Games in August."
Welson will next compete in the Asian Open Water Championships later this month, followed by the Mare Nostrum series, which comprises three stops – June 10-11 in Monaco, June 13-14 in Barcelona, Spain, and June 17-18 in Canet En Roussillon, France.
RESULTS
Men's
50m breaststroke: 1 - Chao Man Hou (Mac) 28.96, 2 - Shaun Yap (Sel) 29.04, 3 - Wong Fu Kang (Joh) 29.10
50m freestyle: 1 - Chan Jie (Sel) 23.44, 2 - Keith Lim (KL) 23.45, 3 - Kothari Anshul (Ind) 23.81
200m butterfly: 1 - Sajan Prakash (Ind) 2:00.17, 2 - Navaphat Wongcharoen (Tha) 2:02.56, 3 - Tiaa Faang Der (Joh) 2:02.72
1,500m freestyle: 1 - Welson Sim (Sar) 15:43.50, 2 - Sajan Prakash (Ind) 15:50.02, 3 - Tanakrit Kittiya (Tha) 16:00.88
Women's
50m breaststroke: 1 - Pornsuda Viniyompong (Tha) 33.65 and Koh Jia Yi (Sel) 33.65, 3 - On Kei Lei (Mac) 34.28
50m freestyle: 1 - Jenjira Srisaard (Tha) 26.17, 2 - Sze Hang Yu (Hkg) 26.20, 3 - Elynn Tan (Pen) 26.90
200m butterfly: 1 - Yumi Okuzono (Sel) 2:24.29, 2 - Ong Yong Qi (Joh) 2:26.49, 3 - Teo Zhi Mei (Mel) 2:34.45
800m freestyle: 1 - Ho Nam Wai (Hkg) 8:56.67, 2 - Ammiga Himathongkom (Tha) 8:58.12, 3 - Angela Chieng (Sar) 9:21.14.