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World Championships: Quah Zheng Wen sets new national record in 200m backstroke

Quah Zheng Wen. Reuters file photo
Quah Zheng Wen. Reuters file photo

Singapore swimmer Quah Zheng Wen set a new national record in the 200m backstroke at the ongoing FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Quah clocked 1 minute 59.49 seconds, rewriting his own national record. He finished 24th overall out of 40 competitors.

While he did not qualify for the semi-finals, Quah was pleased with his performance. He said, “Pretty pleased with a new best time and new national record, definitely there are things that can be improved but pretty happy considering I have not been swimming that much backstroke.”

He added, “This has been a race that I have never really swam at a high level since 2012, London, so it was pretty cool.”

Previously, at the Singapore National Swimming Championships in June this year, Quah clocked 2:00.45.

Ryan Murphy of the United States was the top qualifier in 1:56.11, while New Zealand’s Corey Main rounded off the 16 semi-finalists in a time of 1:58.34.

Before this event, Quah missed out on the semi-finals of the 100m backstroke and 200m butterfly.

The 21-year-old will now turn his attention to the heats for the 100m fly which take on Friday afternoon Singapore time. Compatriot Joseph Schooling is also swimming in the event.

Quah’s final event, the 50m backstroke, is on Saturday.