Malaysia claimed their first gold of  the 28th SEA Games after synchronised swimmers Katrina Ann Abdul Hadi-Zylane Lee lived up to expectations in the duet technical and free routine event finals.

Katrina Ann and Zylane had a slim lead of 1.0731 points over Singapore’s Stephanie Chen-Crystal Yap’s scores of 149.8372 points to claim the gold medal with a combined total of 150.9103 at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.

The Malaysian duo was given 75.3436 point in their technical routine and adding 75.5667 points in the free routine final.

However, the Singapore duo had a strong 75.8667 in the free routine but it was not enough and they had to settle for silver with a total of 149.8372 points.

Indonesia’s Anisa Feritrianti-Adela Amanda Nirmala took the bronze with a  combined total of 139.0880.

“We are grateful for winning Malaysia’s first gold medal, even though it is quite stressful to deliver the gold medal.

“The scores between us and the Singaporean duo were quite tight. Personally, I think we swam very much better than yesterday. We just went all out today and are happy that we won,” said the 22-year-old Katrina Ann.

“Before the SEA Games, we had been training eight hours a day, two months before the competition. As seniors in the team, we had to lead the new swimmers in the event,” she added.   

As for Zylane, she was ecstatic and appeared to be at a loss for words to describe the win.

“Both of us felt stressed but we agreed to focus more on our swim. We tried our very best to eliminate yesterday’s mistake. Personally, I am very happy to have won my first gold medal in the duet event as I usually compete in the team event,” said Zylane.

The duo have another task tonight when they join Fong Yan Nie, Gan Hua Wei, Gan Zhen Yu, Kwong Zhi Kei, Lee Yiat Lum, Lee Yiat Xin and Tasha Jane Taher Ali in the Team Free Combination event.

Malaysian synchronised swimmers already won a silver medal on Wednesday in the team technical and free routine event.

- Bernama