HANGZHOU: Will Khiew Hoe Yean end Malaysia's 21-year wait for a swimming medal at the Asian Games?
On Friday, the 20-year-old reigning Sea Games champion reached the men's 400m freestyle final here today, with the second-fastest time in the heats.
Hoe Yean, who skipped the men's 4x100m freestyle final yesterday to focus on his pet event, clocked 3:51.31s.
South Korea's Kim Woo Min (3:49.03) was the only one ahead of the Malaysian, who holds the national record of 3:48.72. which was set at the World Championships last year.
"As this is my first Asian Games, I will do my best to keep up with the many world-class swimmers here. I will try to stay on their pace," Hoe Yean said on Thursday after inspiring his teammates to reach the men's 4x100m freestyle final.
The last Malaysian to win a medal at the Asian Games was Lim Keng Liat, who won silver at the 2002 Keng Liat clocked 55.18 in the men's 100m backstroke final.
Hoe Yen will swim in the final at 8.20pm today.