Backed by a strong home crowd, Team Singapore swimmers Toh Wei Soong and Yip Pin Xiu made their last attempts for podium finishes on this final evening of the Singapore 2019 World Para Swimming World Series in the Men’s 50m Butterfly and Women’s 50m Backstroke events respectively. Their efforts paid off with two silvers medals, bringing the Republic’s total medal haul to three from the three-day international competition.
Toh placed second with 896 points, behind Wang Jingang’s (CHN) 988 points and 55 points ahead of Russia’s Andrei Granichka. Toh’s timing of 32.40s also marked a new personal best for the 20-year-old.
Fellow compatriot Yip Pin Xiu managed to edge ahead of 20-time Paralympic medallist Mayumi Narita (JPN) with a score of 859 points, but eventually lost to Turkey’s Sumeyye Boyaci, who also won the gold medal for the same event at the Indianapolis World Para Swimming World Series last month.
The Singapore edition of the World Series closed with a total of 12 records broken over the three-day competitions, including four World Records, five Asian Records, two Oceania Records and one Pan-American Record. Three of the world records were broken by Sophie Pascoe (NZL), including an 11-year-old record that had been held by Natalie Du Toit (RSA), who was well known as a Paralympian who qualified for the Olympic Games.
Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, was present at the event on the final day to cheer the swimmers on. She shared, “Singapore is honoured to be the first Asian country to host the World Para Swimming World Series. This is a milestone for sporting Singapore, and a valuable opportunity for our Team Singapore athletes to compete against the best para-swimmers from around the world. I hope this will also inspire more Singaporeans with disabilities to come forward and live better through sport.”
The World Series will continue with two more legs in Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy, between 30 May-2 June, and Berlin, Germany, from 6-9 June.
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