This morning heats saw Team Singapore swimmers Yip Pin Xiu and Toh Wei Soong entering the finals of the third and last day of Singapore 2019 World Para Swimming World Series, which also marks the last two chances for Singapore to raise its medal haul.
Yip placed fourth in the Women’s 50m Backstroke heats with 804 points while Toh secured a place for the Men’s 50m Butterfly after coming in second in the heats with 857 points. It, however, looks set to be an intense evening, as the two would be facing some tough competition in their events.
Yip will be facing top contenders like Mayumi Narita (JPN), a 20-time Paralympic medallist (of which 15 were gold medals), and Sumeyye Boyaci (TUR), who just won the gold medal in the same event last month at the World Para Series held in Indianapolis, USA.
Toh will go up against Wang Jingang (CHN), bronze medallist for the 50m Butterfly S7 category at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, and Jamery Siga (MAS), two-time Asian Para Games 50m Butterfly S5 bronze medallist.
Spectators would likely also look forward to see if Sophie Pascoe (NZL) can continue a streak to break a third World Record tonight. Pascoe clocked 2:30.55 this morning in the Women’s 200m Individual Medley heats, setting a new Oceania record. She scored 1016 points, after comparing her time to the Women’s 200m Individual Medley SM9 world record – a timing of 2:27.83 that was set by Natalie Du Toit (RSA) during the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.
Spectators got a taste of the intensifying atmosphere at the Series this morning when Chang Wei-Chieh (TPE) and Lee Zy Kher (MAS) were called up for a swim-off, to decide the last qualification for the Men’s Butterfly finals. The first swim-off ended with another tie, bringing the two swimmers back to the pool – without a chance to warm down – for a second swim-off. Both clocked faster timings in the second swim-off and eventually, Chang managed to advance into the finals, two points ahead of Lee.
The third and last finals of the Singapore 2019 World Para Swimming World Series will take place this evening at 5.30pm. Viewers can catch the action live on Toggle.
