SHAH ALAM, May 9 — National swimmer, Welson Sim failed to beat the qualifying time to the Olympic Games for category B in the 1,500-metre men’s freestyle event at the 59th Malaysia Open Championship here yesterday.
His attempt to add to the slots to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on merit did not materialise when he only recorded a time of 15 minutes 35.63 seconds at the Darul Ehsan Aquatic Centre while the qualifying time is 15:14.77s.
Welson said he was also still working hard to break the national record for the 1,500-metre freestyle event which still belonged to former national swimmer Jeffrey Ong in 1991 in a time of 15:23.61s.
“It is indeed, difficult to meet the time limit to the Olympics, but I am satisfied with my time recording today, because it is among my best.
“I need to overcome the national record for the 1,500-metre event first before thinking of meeting the qualification for category A at the Olympic Games,” he told reporters.
Welson today added a third gold medal for the event after beating Indian swimmer, Sajan Prakash who recorded a time of 15:47.68s in second place.
Indonesian swimmer, Aflah Fadlan Prawira was in third place in 16:00.79s.
“I am happy at winning my third gold medal, this success is for my mother (Lee Ngiat Kim) in conjunction with Mother’s Day today,” he said.
In the Malaysian Open Championship, Welson also reaped gold medals in the 400-metre freestyle and 200-metre freestyle events and one silver medal in the 100-metres freestyle.
Welson had won two A slots to the Olympic Games for the 400-metre and 200-metre freestyle events. He also won B slots in the 1,500-metre and 100-metre freestyle events.
“I will train in Australia for two weeks after this, There, I will train with the Australian team and also the world’s number one swimmer, Mack Horton,” he said.
After this, Welson still has a chance to reap an Olympic slot in the 100-metre freestyle and 1,500-metre freestyle events at three championships in Europe. — Bernama
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