Singapore’s swimming sensation, Letitia Sim, made waves at the Asian Games on Sunday (Sep 24) by setting a new national record in the women’s 50m breaststroke. This achievement came amidst a dominant performance by China, which clinched seven gold medals on the first day of the swimming competition.
Sim’s Stellar Performance
Competing at the Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre’s aquatic arena, Sim clocked an impressive 31.15s, shaving 0.01s off her previous personal best. Despite her record-setting performance, she finished seventh, with China’s Tang Qianting securing the gold. Reflecting on her swim, Sim remarked, “It felt okay. It didn’t feel as amazing as I wanted it to be, but I’m happy with the swim overall.” National head coach Gary Tan praised her performance, highlighting the competitive environment of the Games.
China’s Unwavering Dominance
The spotlight was firmly on host nation China, with their swimmers breaking four Games records and two Asian records. Their remarkable performance culminated in a total of seven gold medals for the night.
Singapore’s Close Calls
Singapore’s Gan Ching Hwee narrowly missed out on a podium finish, securing fourth place in the women’s 1500m. Her time of 16:24.67 trailed behind China’s Li Bingjie and Gao Weizhong, and Japan’s Yukimi Moriyama. Li’s time set a new Games record. Expressing her disappointment, Gan said, “I came to this race wanting a better finish… I’m a little bit disappointed.”
Quah Jing Wen, Singapore’s national record holder in the women’s 200m butterfly, finished fifth, while teammate Jonathan Tan took the sixth spot in the men’s 100m freestyle. The women’s 4x100m freestyle relay team, comprising Quah Jing Wen, Quah Ting Wen, Nur Marina Chan, and Amanda Lim, secured the fourth position.
Looking Ahead
Despite the challenges, the Singaporean swimmers remain optimistic. Asiad debutant Zackery Tay achieved a personal best in the men’s 100m breaststroke, finishing 14th in the heats. With more events lined up, the team is geared up to give their best in the upcoming races.
