Simply sensational: Federal Territories’ Mohd Dhuha Zulfikry (left) and Sarawak’s Kelly Teo posing with their gold medals at Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre. — IZZRAFIQ ALIAS/The Star
TEENAGE swimmer Kelly Teo did not break any Malaysia Games (Sukma) records but she is smiling all the way to the bank.
Kelly can look forward to collecting almost RM100,000 from the Sarawak state government after ruling the pool in the Sukma competition in Kuching.
The 18-year-old splashed to her sixth gold in winning the girls’ 1,500m freestyle race at Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre yesterday.
Kelly completed the gruelling race in 17:56.21s, finishing well ahead of second placed Chu Xin Ying of Sabah (18:10.61s).
The 1,500m freestyle event, an Olympic event, is only just making its Sukma debut.
This latest victory added to Kelly’s already impressive haul of five gold medals in the 200m, 400m and 800m freestyle; 200m breaststroke and 400m individual medley.
Despite the tiring race, Kelly returned to the pool shortly after to claim a bronze in the girls’ 100m backstroke event in 1:07.38s for her ninth medal in Kuching.
Kelly had also taken silver in the 4x200m freestyle and bronze in the 4x100m mixed freestyle event earlier.
Chong Xin Lin powered her way to a new Sukma record of 1:04.06s in winning the 100m backstroke, bettering the previous mark of 1:05.31s held by Chan Kah Yan of Sabah since 2012.
The Sarawak state government is offering a cash incentive of RM15,000 for gold, RM5,000 for silver and RM3,000 for bronze.
And what does she plan to do with the windfall?
“I’ll treat my best friend and family to a nice meal. I also want to buy a car for myself and put some money aside for the future,” said the soft spoken girl, who was first trained by her father when she started to swim at six.
Winning six gold medals was not in her plans when she started her third Sukma campaign.
“I was aiming for three or four but not so many,” she added.
Federal Territories swimmer Mohd Dhuha Zulfikry also took his tally to six gold medals after coming out tops in the boy’s 800m freestyle.
Dhuha completed the race in 8:14.58s to add to his earlier victories in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 1,500mm freestyle as well as the 4x200m freestyle.
His bid for a seventh gold fell short with FT taking silver in the boys’ 4x100m medley event behind Selangor. He also took silver in the boy’s 4x200m freestyle event on Thursday.
RESULTS
Swimming (all finals)
Boys
50m freestyle: 1. Tong Yu Jing (Pen) 23.06 meet rec, 2. Chris Chew (Pen) 23.32, 3. Yap Min Shun (FT) 23.80.
800m freestyle: 1. Mohd Dhuha Zulfikry (FT) 8:14.58, 2. Anselm Lee (Mel) 8:37.28, 3. Jayden Goh (Sel) 8:37.31.
100m backstroke: 1. Hii Puong Wei (Swk) 57.87, 2. Teoh Kar Chuan (Sel) 59.06, 3. David Lee (FT) 59.75.
4x100m medley: 1. Selangor 3:49.12 meet rec, 2. Federal Territories 3:51.82, 3. Penang 4:00.41.
Girls
50m freestyle: 1. Lee Wei Wen (FT) 26.54, 2. Wong Shi Qi (Pah) 26.75, 3. Loo Yie Bing (Sab) 27.05.
1,500m freestyle: 1. Kelly Teo (Swk) 17:56.21, 2. Chu Xin Ying (Sab) 18:10.61, 3. Yeoh Yun Xuan (Pen) 18:19.76.
100m backstroke: 1. Chong Xin Lin (FT) 1:04.06 meet rec, 2. Vivian Tee (Pen) 1:06.85, 3. Kelly Teo (Swk) 1:07.38.
4x100m medley: 1. Federal Territories 4:19.79 meet rec, 2. Selangor 4:21.93, 3. Penang 4:30.62.
