Yip Pin Xiu breaks world record at Citi Para Swimming World Series
She sets new mark in women's 200m freestyle (S2), even though she only starting swimming the event last year
SINGAPORE — Singapore's para-swimming great Yip Pin Xiu continues to make waves in the pool, as she broke the world and Asian record in the women's 200m freestyle (S2) at the Citi Para Swimming World Series at OCBC Aquatic Centre on Saturday (29 April).
The 31-year-old five-time Paralympic gold medallist clocked 4min 41.46sec in the 200m freestyle multi-class race, to break the 2015 world mark of 4:47.10 by China's Feng Yazhu by nearly six seconds.
It also earned her 1,003 points to win gold in the race, 95 points ahead of Thailand’s Nattharinee Khajhonmatha. Chan Yui Lam of Hong Kong was third with 893 points.
“I did not expect the world record, because I just started swimming the 200m last year. It was only during the heats when I swam just 0.4 seconds behind it – I knew I had to go for it,” said Yip, who also holds the world records in the women's 50m and 100m backstroke (S2).
“To break another world record again, eight years after my 50m backstroke at the ASEAN Para Games is very special to me. I am very grateful that what my team has done in the lead up to this meet has come to fruition.”
Two silver medals from Yip, Toh Wei Soong
Yip also clinched a silver medal on the second day of the competition on Sunday, coming in second in the women's 50m backstroke multi-class final in 1:03.28. That earned her 884 points, behind the Philippines' Angel Mae Otom (994 points) but in front of Greece's Alexandra Stamatopoulou (696 points).
Toh Wei Soong won Singapore's first medal, clinching a silver in the men’s 50m butterfly (S7) race on Saturday, clocking 29.99sec to finish between Colombia's Carlos Zarate (29.70sec) and Nelson Corzo (31.14sec)
Singapore's para-swimmers set 12 national records at the meet.
The World Para Swimming World Series is competed using the Multi-Class Point System, where each swimmer’s result is compared to the world record for their specific disability and awarded points. The closer the performance is to the relevant record, the higher the points.
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