Open water swimmers Boon, Erasmus, Chantal and Khar Yi book tickets to SEA Games

SINGAPORE - Four out of six qualified swimmers have clinched their tickets to represent Singapore in 10km open water swimming at this year's South-east Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur following  this morning's Liberty Insurance Open Water South-east Asian Qualifiers organised by the Singapore Swimming Association at the Constant Wind Sea Sports and Sailing School at Changi.

Sixteen swimmers took part in the qualifiers out of which Benedict Boon and Erasmus Ang met the men's 'A' qualifying time of 2hr 15min 29.80sec while Chantel Liew, Chin Khar Yi and Herlene Natasha Yu went under the women's 'A' qualifying benchmark of 2:38:47.39.

Boon, 21, clocked 2:12:24.80 while 18-year-old Ang swam to shore in 2:13:02.40. 

As only the two top swimmers will get the nod for the SEA Games, 18-year-old Chantal (2:31:36.40) and  Khar Yi (2:33:13.50), who is a year older, will be nominated ahead of Genevieve Lye (2:34:53.00) and 16-year-old Herlene who clocked a credible 2:37:00.00.

(The four swimmers who qualified for the SEA Games. Photo: Singapore Swimming Association)

SSA president Lee Kok Choy said: "Open water swimming is extremely challenging, and requires significant courage, determination and will-power to compete across 10km.

"We are impressed by the challenge put up by all the long-distance swimmers here today. It was a tough swim and I’d like to congratulate each and every participant for finishing the race. Also, I am delighted for Benedict, Erasmus, Chantal and Khar Yi, who have made it for the SEA Games 2017 nomination.

“The association will work closely with the coaches to support the athletes as they train and prepare for the upcoming SEA Games."

Liberty Insurance Singapore CEO Chang Sucheng expressed his admiration for the athletes. "Today’s qualifiers show that there’s a tremendous amount of talent in Open Water swimming," he said. 

"We’re  delighted with the results and are now even more focused to work with SSA and provide new platforms to grow the community."