KUALA LUMPUR, May 5 (Bernama) -- National swimmer Kevin Yeap missed the
opportunity to qualify for the Olympics (Category B) by just 0.42s in the men''s
400m freestyle at the Malaysian Open Swimming Championship at the National
AquaticsCentre, Bukit Jalil here today.
The Perakian however was happy that he bagged a gold medal in a time of
3:54:55s. (Olympics qualfying time 3:54.13s)
"I''m happy that I won but dissapointed for not achieving the qualifying
time. I just need more luck I guess," he told reporters.
Yeap said he pushed his hardest during the first 200m but begun to feel
tired in the last 100m.
"I tried to sustain. I felt my body hurting and I knew I had to do something
but eventually I failed in the end," said the 23-year-old in describing his
attempt.
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SPORTS-SWIMMING 2 (LAST) KUALA LUMPUR
Vernon Lee of Sarawak won silver with 4:00.15s and Matthew Abeysinghe of Sri
Lanka took the bronze by 4:04.10s.
Yeap had met the London Olympic qualifying time (Category B) for the men''s
1,500m freestyle at the Singapore national age-group meet last month and was
gunning for the 400m freestyle as well.
"My last chance to try for the 400m will be in the SEA championship in
Singapore next month. I''m almost there, I just need to improve a little bit
more," he said.
Other national swimmers who shined in the championship today were Marellyn
Liew of Sabah in the women 50m butterfly and Siow Yi Ting of Negeri Sembilan in
the women 200m breaststroke. Both won the respective events.
Meanwhile, Khoo Chai Lin of Selangor and Yap See Tuan of Pahang only managed
silver in the women''s 400m freestyle and men''s 200m breaststroke respectively.
-- BERNAMA
AHS LES HA