National swimmer Ashley Chai (L) and RBRC swim coach Victor Tan pose for a photo at the Brunei International Airport in Berakas prior to leaving for the 5th Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa last week. BT file
ASHLEY Chai swam her way to a second national age group record in as many days at the 5th Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) in Samoa after completing Final B of the girls' 50-metre backstroke event with a time of 33.83 seconds.
The time betters the previous Group 2 (14-15 years old) record of 34.13s set by Maria Grace Koh in 2007 but is 0.02 slower than her previous best from last year.
The 13-year-old managed a time of 33.84s in the heats to place 17th out of 19 competitors. She entered the 16-swimmer final after the withdrawal of an Isle of Man swimmer at the Tuana'imato Sports Facility. She also produced a new age group record in the 100m backstroke on Monday when clocking a time of 1:13.89.
"We went early and worked more on her start. It was a good swim from her and she capitalised on her start we had worked on," said Victor Tan, Royal Brunei Recreational Club (RBRC) swim coach, in the contingent's report yesterday.
"In both sessions she betters the old record of 34.13s set by Maria Grace Koh from 2007. "I'm satisfied with her results in both sessions," he added. Chai will take to the pool again today to compete in the 200m backstroke event, which she currently holds the national open record with a time of 2:41.12.
Ernie Sahrina Abdul Fattah is set to see action in the shot put event at the Apia Park Sport Complex to complete the Sultanate's campaign at the Games. Muhammad Wafiq Kifli and Muhd Ammar Safwan Hj Zaidin are the other two representing the country at the Sept 5-11 competition.
The former had set a new national age group record (Under-18) in the long jump event with a distance of 5.65m while Mud Ammar Safwan, who was the flag bearer for the country in the opening on Saturday, clocked a time of 52.13s in the 400m event.
