SEA Games: Coach hails synchronised swimmers' golden outing, hopes for more support for sport

KUALA LUMPUR – Featuring six South-East Asian (SEA) Games debutants, and performing in the homeground of their closest rivals Malaysia, the odds did not seem to be in favour of Singapore’s synchronised swimmers as they entered the pool at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil for the team free routine on Sunday evening (Aug 20).

However, in front of a largely partisan crowd, the national synchronised swimming team led by captain Debbie Soh kept their nerve and blew the competition out of the water as they took home the gold medal with a score of 75.1333.

They finished 2.0666 points ahead of the Malaysians, who claimed the silver, while Indonesia won the bronze with a score of 71.4667.

The victory ensured that Singapore’s synchronised swimmers have achieved their best-ever SEA Games medal haul with three gold, following earlier victories in the solo free and duet technical routines.

The country’s previous best Games medal haul was two gold – in the team and free combination events – which they achieved in 2015 on home soil.

While pleased with her charges for winning gold, Singapore’s synchronised swimming head coach Maryna Tsimashenka said she had targeted a higher score for them.

She said: “The girls were very good (today), and they were able to show all the highlights of our routine. They displayed a very good technical and artistic level, and they performed very well for everyone here to enjoy.

“But we're sad and disappointed about the score, because I think they can still achieve higher…maybe about 80 points, but we'll work to try and increase it. We’ve taken the feedback from the judges on where we can improve in our routine and we’ll work on that.”

With a cheeky look at Debbie, who was beside her, Tsimashenka added with a laugh: “Maybe we’ll look to increase our training hours from now on.”

However, the 50-year-old said she hoped that this current group of synchronised swimmers would stay on together as a team to continue their training and progress.

“I ask for all the girls to continue,” said Tsimashenka. “We have a very good team and we can compete at a higher level, but we must first increase the intensity of our training in future.

"Also, we will need more support for the sport if we are to achieve better things.

Debbie’s victory with the team comes on the back of a silver which she won with team-mate Miya Yong in the duet free routine earlier in the day.

The duo took the runners-up position after scoring a personal best of 76.2333 in the event, while the gold went to Malaysia, who scored 76.3000.

Nonetheless, Debbie will leave Kuala Lumpur as the most successful synchronised swimmer at this year’s competition with three gold and two silver medals to her name.

Despite her success, the 19-year-old insists she will not rest on her laurels and will continue working hard to improve.

“I did my best in every event and if the results do not show it, then it just means we have to keep working harder,” she said.

“Nonetheless, I feel this whole experience at this SEA Games has been very fulfilling because it has been a very big transition being one of the youngest in the team, to becoming the oldest and captain of this year’s team.

“Over the past two years, there have been a lot of ups-and-downs, be it whether to improve the technical or team bonding aspects…there were some struggles, but I’m glad we managed to push through and achieve what we did.”

Singapore’s synchronised swimming team’s overall haul at the 29th SEA Games is three gold (solo free, duet technical, team free), two silver (solo technical and duet free), and two bronze (solo technical and solo free).

Singapore Swimming Association's vice-president for the sport Philip Lee told TODAY that their next objective will be to have the girls compete at bigger competitions such as the Asian Games and ultimately, the Olympics.

“Aside from their gold medal haul, based on performances alone, I feel the girls deserve credit because they've done extremely well,” said Lee. “They’ve completed the necessary tasks that the coaches have given to them in all areas. 

“That shows that our girls have improved, and the next target for them is definitely to move them to a higher level of competition like the Asian Swimming Championships, the Asian Games and even the Olympics.”