Singapore para swimmers stood tall and proud on the winners’ podium at 2022 ASEAN Para Games. Their faces beaming as brightly as the medals around their necks in the Jati Diri Swimming Complex, Semarang.
There have been splash after splash of gold, silver and bronze for Team Singapore as its swimmers touched the wall ahead of their competition this morning.
Colin Soon added a silver to his collection clocking in at 1:03.10 in the men’s 100m freestyle S12 timed finals.
“Today’s swim felt pretty good but I didn’t swim the time I wanted but I felt it was a reasonable swim. My game plan was to focus on my own swim, on the technique and on what I need to do and not worry about what my competitors were going to do. So, I think that (plan) worked pretty well. I felt less nervous today, familiarised myself with the pool and who I was going to swim with so I admit I’m a little less nervous now. Going forward I feel I can be a lot more confident,” said Soon.
The 17-year-old has had a stellar debut in the APG, having secured one gold medal in the 100m breaststroke SB12, and will be looking to add a third medal on 5 Aug in his final event of the games, the 50m breaststroke SB12.
Fellow APG debutant Darren Chan repeated his success the day before and doubled his tally of bronze medals. Chan placed 3rd out of 5 with 1:00.27 and set a new national record and personal best, bringing his medal count to two. The 19-year-old swam in his second meet of the day, the 100m butterfly S14 timed finals, and finished 4th out of 5. But Chan set a new national record and personal best by clocking 1:05.66.
“I feel happy and excited after the 100 free but also know I need to train harder with my coach,” said Chan.
Next to stand on the podium was Wong Zhi Wei, who struck gold in the men’s 100m freestyle S13 timed finals. He clocked 1:00.07, setting a games record, national record, and personal best in the process. The gold was Wong’s second medal, having won a silver in the 100m breaststroke SB13.
“This is my first major games gold medal since I came back to training after my A-Levels and my surgery in 2020 so for me it felt like a step in the right direction. I feel I am better than when I was back then, having recovered and matured. When I touched the wall and I realised I was first, I just slammed the water a bit. I was just so excited. Now I’m calmer and just feeling happy in general with the gold. I’m looking forward to swimming in the next event. I feel proud that I was the one who raised the Singapore flag today,” said Wong.
Team mates Danielle Moi and Nicole Fu swam alongside in the women’s 100m freestyle S14 timed finals. Moi took home the bronze at 1:07.49 while Fu swam her personal best at 1:15.93. The pair will be facing off once more in the 200m freestyle S14 tomorrow.
The proceedings today saw the medal count for Team Singapore’s para swimmers jump to seven, with three golds, two silvers, and two bronzes.
Jeremiah Liauw is looking forward to adding to the medal tally as he takes part in the men’s 50m freestyle S6 tomorrow.
The anticipation will definitely be building to a crescendo on 5 Aug when seven of Team Singapore’s para swimmers will be competing. The proud contingent will have the chance to strike more gold as they conclude their campaign at the APG 2022.
Catch the sporting action live here at TheHomeGroud Asia, and cheer Team Singapore’s para athletes on as they strive for gold in Solo Indonesia for the 2022 ASEAN Para Games.
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