Records fall as pool events wrap

By Sylvia Gratia Miranda

JAKARTA (JP): Outstanding performances lowered the curtain on the swimming competition yesterday, as all but one of the six winners entered the SEA Games record book.

Thailand's Ravee Intporn-Udom capped her outstanding Games by winning a fifth gold medal in the 400 meters individual medley.

Her 4:53.30 shaved 0.94 of a second off compatriot Minphrapal Praphansai's mark set in 1995.

Singapore's Sia Wai Yen (5:02.66) and Indonesia's Rita Mariani (5:05.97) finished lengths behind her.

Ravee,17, said she had not unexpected to do so well. "My aim was just to set personal bests."

Eight swimmers surpassed Games records yesterday.

Torlarp Sethsothorn gave Thailand its second gold of the day by winning the men's 200 meters freestyle in 1:52.97. He beat his own mark of 1:53.92 from 1995.

He was followed by Raymond Papa of the Philippines (1:53.19) and Singaporean Ju Wei Sng (1:53.46).

Malaysian men did surprisingly well by grabbing two golds. In the 200 meters butterfly, Lim Keng Liat set a new record of 2:02.90, beating 2:04.02 by Filipino Eric Buhain in 1989.

Indonesia's hope Albert C.Sutanto got the silver (2:03.67), followed by Lim's compatriot Ang Anthony (2:03.92).

Malaysia also won the men's 4x100 individual medley in 3:48.33, breaking Thailand's record (3:51.60) set in 1995.

The silver went to Thailand (3:51.48).

Understrength Indonesia had to be content with the bronze in 3:51.89. The host quartet trailed in most of the race before anchor Richard Sam Bera narrowed the gap.

Indonesia's coach Lukman Niode said the team had not expected gold because Richard was suffering from a cold. "This event traditionally Malaysia's," he said.

Singapore's Joscelin Yeo earned the honor of fastest women in the pool by sprinting to gold in the women's 50 meters freestyle. Her 27.27 held off a surprising challenge by Aung Moe Thu of Myanmar (27.46) and Kathy Echiverri of the Philippines (27.73). But she was the exception among the gold winners in being unable to break her own Games mark of 26.66 from 1995.

Catherine Surya won the lone gold for Indonesia after she finished first in 2:15.17, surpassing Praphansai's two-year-old mark of 2:15.60.

In the synchronized swimming event earlier yesterday, Malaysia's Jacquelyn Chan grabbed the gold in the solo competition with 81.800. Indonesia's Tyas Titisari took the silver with 79.000 and compatriot Lenny Puspita took bronze (76.467).

Indonesia won gold in the duet event by scoring 83.267, while Malaysia got the silver (79.333) and Thailand the bronze (64.400). Indonesia's Tyas Titisari and Lenny Puspita performed a delightful routine to traditional music.