Swimming: Zheng Wen's silver finish

Swimming: Zheng Wen's silver finish

He was visibly struggling after all his swims, after suffering a slight fever and sore throat the night before.

But it did not stop Singapore swimmer Quah Zheng Wen from clinching two silver medals at the Fina Swimming World Cup Singapore at the OCBC Aquatic Centre last night.

The 19-year-old finished joint-second with Russia's Viacheslav Prudnikov (53.66sec) in the men's 100m butterfly, and claimed the silver outright in the 50m backstroke with 25.50.

Japan's Masato Sakai won the 100m butterfly in 53.53, while Australia's Ashley Delaney clinched the 50m backstroke title in 25.30.

"I don't really like to account for my racing using health as an excuse," said Quah, after his last race of the evening, whom he finished fourth in the 200m backstroke in 2min 4.62sec.

"I just went out there and did my best."

Ahead of the meet, national coach Sergio Lopez said that the swimmer was capable of making the Rio Olympics "A" cuts in the 100m butterfly (52.36) and 200m backstroke (1:58.22), with Quah already making the grade in the 200m butterfly and the 100m backstroke.

UNFAZED

While the Singaporean did not meet the mark - which means automatic qualification for the Olympics - he is unfazed, having just returned to training after the World Championships in August and then the World Cup legs in Moscow and Paris.

"I definitely wasn't feeling my best in terms of my health, and, in terms of training and preparations, I can't say that I am at my best, yet," he said.

"I have other shots at the World Cup legs in Tokyo and Dubai," added the swimmer, who was granted deferment from full-time National Service until the end of the Olympics next year.

The Republic also clinched a silver medal last night through Danny Yeo in the men's 200m freestyle.

The 25-year-old clocked 1:51.07 to finish joint-second with Sakai, with Australia's Daniel Smith claiming gold in 1:48.15.


This article was first published on October 5, 2015.
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