BEST TIME: Gui Ping clocked his personal best time in finishing 6th in the 4th Asian Under-18 Students Swimming Championship held in Macau recently.
SIBU: Rising star Nee Gui Ping completed a creditable performance at the 4th Asian Under-18 Students Swimming Championship held in Macau recently.
The 13-year-old butterfly specialist from SMK Chung Hua here recorded his personal best of 2’13” to earn a respectable sixth placing in the Boys’ U-18 200m butterfly.
“It was a big achievement and, hopefully, I will be able to capitalise on that result to go for further glory,” he said when contacted.
Gui Ping, who won the MSSM-Milo National Most Promising Award earlier this year, described the championship as a revelation to him.
“It was the first time I participated in an international championship.
“With all the experience I mustered from the meet, I believe this will help me go the distance in my future swimming championships.”
Gui Ping also pledged to achieve a breakthrough in the next few years in the 200m butterfly, perhaps dipping below the 2’ mark or at least smashing his personal best time of 2’13”.
“It’s not easy but I will work hard to improve on my swimming technique and with the guidance from my coach, I believe nothing is impossible.”
Another Sibu swimmer, Ngu Jiung Wei, 15, also finished a respectable sixth placing in the 1500m freestyle with a time of 17’19”.
However, when contacted, Jiung Wei expressed dissatisfaction over the result, saying he could have done better.
Jiung Wei has a personal best of 16’40” in the 1500m freestyle and the bronze medalist at this championship only recorded a time of 16’30”.
“Unfortunately, it was just not my day. I can only blame myself for the failure to come up with my personal best.”
Jiung Wei made amends in the 200m Individual Medley when he returned a personal best of 2’17” in the heats.
But even that did not enable him to qualify for the final of the event.
Sibu Swimming Association (SASA) chief coach Hii Hieng Chiong was happy with the performance of the Sibu swimmers.
“Age is on their side and if they continue to have the passion and the love for the sport, they should be able to excel.”
Swimmers from more than 20 countries saw action in the meet.
Among the countries competing were China, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Iran and India.