18-year-old Welson Smashes National Record To Qualify For Rio Olympics

(File pix) The 18-year-old Welson Sim is the first Malaysian swimmer to dip under the Olympic A time of 3:50.40 achieved at the very same venue where he won his first Sea Games gold medal in the same event last year.

KUALA LUMPUR: Welson Sim made history when the swimmer met the 'A' time for the Rio Olympic Games in the men's 400m freestyle at the Singapore national age-group swimming met at OCBC Aquatic Centre today. 

Welson smashed his national record of 3:52.83 set at the World Cup in Doha last November en route to winning the final with 3:50.33. The 18-year-old is the first Malaysian swimmer to dip under the Olympic A time of 3:50.40 achieved at the very same venue where he won his first Sea Games gold medal in the same event last year. 

An Ting Yao of Taiwan took silver in 3:55.45 ahead of Singapore's bronze medallist Yeo Kai Quan (4:02.18). The Sarawakian would have taken bronze with his new national record at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. 

National coach Paul Birmingham described Welson's achievement as outstanding. "I am happy with his result. "It's just taken more race practice to get the pacing better," said Birmingham. 

Besides swimming, Malaysia now have qualified for archery, track cycling, diving, shooting and sailing for Rio Olympics.

Read More : http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/03/133400/18-year-old-welson-smashes-national-record-qualify-rio-olympics