KUALA LUMPUR: Khiew Hoe Yean emerged as the fastest Southeast Asian swimmer in the men's 200-metre freestyle at the World Aquatic Championships in Japan today.
Hoe Yean clocked one minute and 48.18 seconds to place fourth in his heat (heat 5) at the Marine Messe Fukuoka aquatics centre.
Singapore's Glen Lim (1:49.13s), Thailand's Dulyawat Kaewsriyong (1:52.24s) and Vietnam's Hoang Quy Phuoc (1:53.67s) also swam in the same heat.
Hoe Yean's time ranked him 30th overall from over 70 swimmers that competed in the discipline.
The 20-year-old had earlier in May set a season's best time of 1:47.81s en route to gold at the Phnom Penh Sea Games.
Welson Sim remains the national record holder in the event with a time of 1:47.36s (2017).
Hoe Yean will take to the pool for the men's 800m freestyle tomorrow. He holds the national record (8:05.38s) in the event.
Andrew Goh will also be competing in the men's 50m breastroke tomorrow.