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Asian Games: No curry, no cry: Swimmer Ching Hwee focused on making waves

JAKARTA — Each time she steps into the dining hall at the Athletes' Village in Jakarta, swimmer Gan Ching Hwee is greeted by the delicious smell of curry and has to resist the urge to dig into her favourite dish.

Gan Ching Hwee represents Singapore in the Women's 1500m Freestyle Final at the Gelora Bung Karno Aquatics Centre in Jakarta.

Gan Ching Hwee represents Singapore in the Women's 1500m Freestyle Final at the Gelora Bung Karno Aquatics Centre in Jakarta.

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TODAY features three national athletes who are making their debuts at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia from Aug 18 to Sept 2.

Rower Joan Poh, 27, teenage swimmer Gan Ching Hwee, 15, and 82-year-old contract bridge player Jane Choo talk about their pre-game jitters, their goals, and what competing in the region's biggest and most prestigious sports event means to them. 

JAKARTA — Each time she steps into the dining hall at the Athletes' Village in Jakarta, swimmer Gan Ching Hwee is greeted by the delicious smell of curry and has to resist the urge to dig into her favourite dish.

The 15-year-old has held off from taking spicy food since she arrived on Saturday, for fear that it may upset her stomach ahead of her debut at the 2018 Asian Games.

"It's been really good… it's my first time in the Games village and it's an eye-opener," she said.

"What surprised me the most was the food hall. There's quite a range of different cuisines. We are spoiled for choice, and I have to tell myself to control and not go overboard."

Touted as an up-and-coming young talent for Singapore, Ching Hwee is the youngest among the country's 25-strong swimming contingent at the Asian Games. The teenager, who won a bronze in the 400m individual medley at the 2017 SEA Games, competed in her first race on Sunday, finishing fifth in the women's 1,500m freestyle in a new personal best and national record of 16min 39.70sec.

The distance swimmer is also up for two more individual events (400m freestyle, 800m freestyle), and the women's 4x200m freestyle relay.

Her senior teammates, especially her roommate Amanda Lim — a 10-time gold medallist at the SEA Games — have been helping her get over pre-race jitters and making her feel at home in Jakarta. Lim, for instance, taught her "relay change-overs as I wasn't that good at it", Ching Hwee said.

Her first Asian Games experience will serve as a stepping stone as the teenager eyes the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"The Asian Games will allow me to learn from some of the best in the region, and the exposure to high-level competitions will give me experience and set me up for future international meets," she said.

"I'm looking forward to Tokyo 2020 and I really hope I can qualify for it."

The 2020 Olympic Games may also be where Ching Hwee will get to meet her favourite swimmer, American Katie Ledecky, the winningest female swimmer in history with five Olympic gold medals and 14 world championship titles.

Ledecky won her first Olympic gold in the 800m freestyle when she was Ching Hwee's age, a feat that the Singaporean teenager said "inspires" her, adding that "if she can do it, I can do it too".

She told TODAY: "I'm fascinated by how she dominates races. She really inspires me… her mindset, and how calm she is before races.

"I would be so excited if I get the opportunity to race against her."

First-timers from Team SG gear up for Asian Games

Read about octogenarian Jane Choo's hopes for medal glory here: A debutant at 82, contract bridge player Jane Choo wants a shiny medal

And rower Joan Poh's long, lonely journey, but she's not giving up on her dream

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