Above: Winners for Women’s 200m Free events (Left to Right: Mick Massey, Performance Director of National Para Swim Team, Dr Teo-Koh Sock Miang, President Of Singapore Disability Sports Council, Preston Tan, Vice-President of Toyota, Nattharinee Khajhonmatha, Silver Medalist, Yip Pin Xiu, Gold Medalist, Chan Yui Lam, Bronze Medalist and Eric Chua, Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth & Ministry of Social and Family Development)
Team Singapore athletes had a fantastic start to the first day of the World Para Swimming World Series, with a silver medal from Toh Wei Soong in the S7 Men’s 50m Fly, and a world record and gold by Yip Pin Xiu for Women’s 200m Free events.
Toh touched home in 29.99s, squeezing in a finish between Columbians Carlos Zarate and Nelson Crispin Corzo with 976 World Para Swimming (WPS) points, and secured Singapore’s first medal to a rousing audience in this home edition.
The atmosphere went to an all-time high when Yip Pin Xiu broke the world record for S2 Women’s 200m Free with a timing of 4:41.46, almost six seconds faster than the previous record held by China’s Feng Yazhu. She finished with 1003 pointsto win gold, 95 points ahead of Thailand’s Nattharinee Khajhonmatha. Chan Yui Lam of Hong Kon was third with 893 points.
“I did not expect the world record because I just started swimming the 200m last year. It was only during the heats when I swam just 0.4 seconds behind it – I knew I had to go for it,” said Yip. “Singaporeans have been so supportive here at OCBC Aquatic Centre and I really enjoy swimming in this pool. To break another world record again, eight years after my 50m backstroke at the ASEAN Para Games is very special to me. I am very grateful that what my team has done in the lead up to this meet has come to fruition.”
The World Para Swimming World Series is competed using the Multi-Class Point System (MCPS) where each swimmer’s result is compared to the world record for their specific disability and awarded points. The closer the performance is to the relevant record, the higher the points.
The 2023 World Series will take place in 9 countries, across 4 continents and Singapore is the only Asian stop. Hosted by the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), this is the second time Singapore has hosted the event.
The action in the pool will continue Sunday, 30 April and Monday, 1 May. Tickets are on sale here.
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