KUALA LUMPUR: Nadia Lim wants her national 100m freestyle record back and has targeted next month's SEA Age Championships meet to reclaim it from Eliza Tan.
The 15-year-old said illness and foot tendinitis disrupted her preparations for the Selangor Malaysia Games (Sukma), where Eliza bettered her national long-course mark.
Nadia got a timely boost on Thursday, winning the women's 200m individual medley at the second National Short Course Swimming Championships at the National Aquatics Centre in Bukit Jalil.
Representing Kurenang Swim Club, she clocked 2 minutes 17.53 seconds to finish ahead of Wahoo Swim Team's Aw Yuet Ting, who touched home in 2:19.06s, and Newave's Khoo Sue Enn, who took third in 2:21.91s.
Eliza renewed the national record in May with 57.35, breaking the four-year-old record of 57.56s set by Sabah's Loo Yie Bing.
Then, Nadia, who will turn 16 next month, clocked 57.11s at the Asian Age-Group Aquatics Championships in Bangkok in July.
Eliza reclaimed her record, becoming the first Malaysian woman to swim under 57 seconds at Sukma with a blistering 56.78 in August.
"I wasn't in the best shape for Sukma, so that's why my performance wasn't that good. But next month, for SEA Age, I'm hoping to get that national record back in the 100 free," said Nadia after receiving her medal.
"I was a bit sick, and I also have an injury, tendinitis in my foot, so that impacted my consistency in training."
The Dubai-based swimmer said her condition had since improved, with aerobic work forming a major part of her training.
While determined to regain the record, Nadia welcomes the competition from Eliza.
"I love racing against Eliza. She's a really, really good swimmer, so hopefully we can race more in the future," she said.
Reflecting on the final, Nadia was pleased with her improved turns and how she built her pace through each 50m, although the national record remained beyond her reach.
"I was really happy with the final because I think my turns were a lot better. I needed to work on my turns to make them faster," she said.
Nadia's next major target at the championships is the 200m freestyle on the third day, when she hopes to secure qualification for the World Short Course Championships in Beijing.
Already the national short-course record holder in the event, with 2:03.38s, she also wants to break the two-minute barrier.
"I really love swimming short course because of my underwaters. I'm really excited, and hopefully I can go to Beijing," she added.
RESULTS
Men: 200m breaststroke: 1. Yu Xiang Cham (DSA) 2:17.15; 2. Job Xi Jay Tan (HBS) 2:17.59; 3. Kee Ming Yoong (KRNW) 2.18.62
50 butterfly: 1. Ananda Lim (NT) 24.03; Ho Zhi Yang (PADE) 24.41; 3. Abdul Karim Jaafar Azhar (KPGCC) 24.59.
200m IM: 1. Low Zheng Yong (NT) 2:00.49; 2. Hii Puong Wei (NT) 2:02.41; 3. Aslan Adnan (PADE) 2:06.36
50m backstroke:1. Oswald Lim (PADE) 25.67; 2. Azahar Abdul Karim (KPGCC) 26.01. 3. Khew Mu Han (PADE) 26.34.
Women: 200m breaststroke: 1. Grace Li (DSA) 2:39.24; 2. Kimberly Bee (VSC) 2:39.25; 3. Yoong Jia Jia (PADE) 2:42.60.
50m butterfly: 1. Wong Shi Qi (DSA) 27.67; 2. Aw Yuet Ting (WST) 28.14; 3. Christy Teh (PADE) 29.62.
200m IM: 1. Nadia Lim (KSC) 2.17.53; 2. Aw Yuet Ting (WST) 2:19.06; Khoo Sue Enn (Newave) 2:21.91
50 backstroke: 1. Vivian Tee (WST) 29.44; Khoo Sue En (Newave) 29.71; 3. Christy Teh (PADE) 30.44s.
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