KUCHING, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- Federal Territories (FT) swimmer Muhammad Dhuha Zulfikry hopes to increase his gold medal haul to seven in the 2024 Malaysia Games (SUKMA), when swimming events conclude tomorrow.
Today, the 16-year-old bagged his fifth gold medal in style by bettering the men’s 400m freestyle Games record, clocking 3 minutes and 55.59 seconds at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre.
Selangor’s Henry Goh Li Hen (4:06.40s) and Samuel Lai Chong Weng (4:06.88s) of Penang bagged silver and bronze, respectively.
Muhammad Dhuha then helped FT to win a silver in the men’s 4x200m freestyle with Muhammad Arif Zulfikry, Teo Zun Jet and Jayden Tan, clocking 7:39.21s.
Henry Goh Li Hen, Aslan Adnan, Loke Yew Jien and Jayden Goh Lie Jie led Selangor to the gold with a new Games record of 7:37.51s, erasing the 7:40.17s mark set by the FT team in the 2018 edition, while Penang’s Wan Khai Hern, Elson Lee Chun Hong, Vanness Tee Meng Xuan, Samuel Lai Chong Weng (7:52.03s) settled for bronze.
Muhammad Dhuha now seeks redemption for last edition’s disappointment after failing to win any individual medals, by claiming two more gold medals in the men’s 800m freestyle and 4x100m medley, tomorrow.
“I feel happy and proud to win five gold medals and setting three new National records. This is certainly the best medicine to heal my disappointment during the last edition when I had failed to win any individual medal.
“Before arriving here, I was confident of winning at least six gold medals, based on the times that I have been clocking,” he told reporters, adding that from four events participated in the 2022 SUKMA, he only managed to get a gold in the 4x100m freestyle event.
At the Sarawak Games, Muhammad Dhuha has also won the 200m freestyle, 1,500m freestyle and 4x100m freestyle gold, all with Games record times, as well as gold in the 100m freestyle.
His teammate Bryan Leong Xin Ren also continued his record breaking feat in the men’s 100m butterfly, with a new SUKMA record of 53.22s to win gold, deleting the 54.80s mark set by Selangor’s Chan Jie in 2016.
Selangor’s Andrew Goh won his fourth gold medal by winning the men’s 200m freestyle event with a new Games record of 2:16.40, erasing the 2:17.47s set by his teammate Ng Jing Fu in 2018.
Meanwhile, Sarawak’s Kelly Teo Yao also bagged her fifth gold medal through the women’s 400m freestyle event after clocking 4:31.85s.
The 18-year-old then joined Chereen Ngo Yirui, Magdalene Lau Ing Siew and Shanise Jauwa Joseline Adong to help Sarawak clinch the women’s 4x200m freestyle silver with a time of 8:52.19s.
With another eight gold medals up for grabs tomorrow, Selangor and FT are fighting closely to top the overall swimming medal tally since Selangor leads with 12 gold, 17 silver and six bronze, while FT has a haul of 12-7-5.
-- BERNAMA
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