Thailand extends its domination

JAKARTA (JP): Thai swimmers continued their domination of the 24th Southeast Asia interclub age group swimming championships yesterday despite stiff challenges from Singaporean swimmers.

Thailand took 14 golds on the second day while Singapore won 13 golds in the championships for the Sanya Samakki challenge cup at the Pelita Harapan school pool in Karawaci, Tangerang.

Two records were broken yesterday. Ravee In-Porn-Udom of the Boonward Brewery club Bangkok swam 4:55.76 in the 400 meter individual medley girls age group I (15-17 years old). The old record of 5:01.48 was set by Fang Xin of the Chinese Swimming Club Singapore in 1994.

Ivan Goh Kwang Yang also set a record of 2:22.78 in the 200m individual medley boys age group III (11-12). The old record was made by Bangkok Christian College's Torwai Sethsothorn in 1995.

Indonesian swimmers won four silvers and eight bronzes.

M. Akbar Nasution of the Pari Sakti grabbed his first silver in the 100m breaststroke boys age group II (13-14) by clocking 1:09.74. The gold went to Sompoch Jantra of Khema Siri who finished in 1:09.61 and the bronze to Desmond Foo of Christian Singapore in 1:11.37.

Akbar won his second silver in the 400m individual medley boys in 4:50.48. Mark Chay of Christian Singapore took the gold in 4:49.92 and Vittaya Puooy of Satit Prasanmit Thailand finished in 5:12.72 to win the bronze.

Darlene Rahmawati of Suryanaga won Indonesia's third silver in the 100m breastroke girls age group II (13-14) by clocking 1:19.91. Darlene is among Indonesia's second string swimmers who are being groomed for the 19th SEA Games here in October.

Daphne Teo of Christian Singapore won the gold in 1:17.44 and Karen Zayco of Negros Association Philippines took the bronze in 1:20.25.

Evelyn Surya of Tirta Baruna, a sister of Indonesia top swimmer Catherine Surya, won the country's fourth medal in 200m backstroke in 2:27.79.

Compatriot Silvy Triana of Tirta Taruna, who is also an SEA Games second string swimmer, took the bronze in 2:29.60. The gold went to Chonthon Vorathamrong of Boonward Brewery Bangkok who clocked 2:24.56.

The championships, which end today, features 100 events and more than 100 swimmers from 27 clubs from seven countries. (oby/yan)