Swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean signed off the Malaysian Open with yet another impressive performance to take his fourth gold medal.
The 20-year-old showed that he is capable in all disciplines after winning the longest race of the swimming programme — the 1,500m freestyle — in 15:30.90s at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil yesterday.
His Kuala Lumpur teammate, Jayden Tan, 17, finished second in 15:56.87, followed by Melaka's Low Zheng Yong (16:02.02).
It was an impressive performance from Hoe Yean, especially since he had to race two sessions (preliminary and final) in the middle distance races over the last three days.
His performance also saw him beating the World Aquatics Championships B qualifying time of 15:36.30.
The world championships will be held in Budapest, Hungary in July, and Hoe Yean is pleased with his performance on the last day of the meet.
"It is nice to swim well in the 1,500m freestyle and clock a 15:30. It is more of a mental challenge for myself," said Hoe Yean, who thus completed a sweep of all the freestyle events in the national meet.
He won the 100m, 200m and 400m events ahead of former Sea Games champion Welson Sim earlier.
Hoe Yean, who already rewrote three national records (800m freestyle, 200m backstroke and 400m individual medley) could also be in line to break the longest-standing national record if he continues his impressive development.
Jeffrey Ong clocked 15:23.61 in the 1500m freestyle en route to a silver at the World Games in 1991, which is the longest-standing record in Malaysian swimming.
Welson came close to Jeffrey's record when he clocked 15:29.76 in 2019.
"I did think about the record, but it's not the main focus right now," said Hoe Yean.
"I prefer swimming in the 200m and 400m freestyle events now, but I am ready for anything my coach (Chris Martin) puts me for."
Phee Jinq En also claimed her third individual gold when she won the women's 50m breaststroke race in 32.77. Jinq En, swimming for Selangor, had won the 100m and 200m distances earlier.
Johor's Tan Rouxin took silver in 33.66 ahead of KL's Yap Inn She, who clocked 28.04.
RESULTS — Men's 50m freestyle: 1 Tong Yu Jing (Pen) 23.84s, 2 Yap Min Shun (KL) 24.03, 3 Terence Ng (Sel) 24.12; 50m breaststroke: 1 Hii Puong Wei (Swk) 29.11, 2 Ng Kai Wen (KL) 29.95, 3 Andrew Goh (Sel) 30.02; 100m backstroke: 1 Terence Ng (Sel) 59.01, 2 Khiew Tze Yean (KL) 1:00.35, 3 Edric Ong (Sel) 1:01.83; 1,500m freestyle: 1 Khiew Hoe Yean (KL) 15:30.90, 2 Jayden Tan (KL) 15:56.87, 3. Low Zheng Yong (Mel) 16:02.02.
Women's 50m freestyle: 1 Leong Wan Mei (Swk) 27.83, 2 Jocelyn Lam (Swk) 28.00, 3 Yap Inn She (KL) 28.04; 50m breaststroke: 1 Phee Jinq En (Sel) 32.77, 2 Tan Rouxin (Joh) 33.66, 3 Elsa Eow (KL) 35.05; 100m backstroke: 1 Tan Rouxin (Joh) and Chong Xin Lin (KL) 1:05.57, 3 Mabel Ho (Sel) 1:09.89; 800m freestyle: 1 Goh Chia Tong (Mel) 9:10.09, 2 Kelly Teo (Swk) 9:21.56, 3 Georgene Wee (KL) 9:50.92.