SEA Games: PH’s gold from swimmer Alkhaldi nullified

Jasmine Alkhaldi. FILE PHOTO

NAYPYITAW—From gold to bust.

Swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi’s triumph in the women’s 100m freestyle in the 27th Southeast Asian Games was nullified late Thursday night after Thailand officials filed a protest, which was later upheld by the organizers.

It was a disappointing twist since the narrow victory of the London Olympian over two Singaporean rivals was the only gold captured by the Philippines for the day.

Coach Pinky Brosas said everybody went into the water on the first horn except the Thai swimmer, who waited for the second horn before jumping in.

“The protest was upheld because of a second horn but the race went on and they never really put the flag down,'” said Brosas.

“`We didn’t hear it. All we could hear was the initial horn,” he added.

There will be a re-swim of the event at the 6 p.m. today (7:30 p.m. Manila time)

`”Of course Jasmine is disappointed. But she will not show it. She’s a strong girl,” said Brosas.

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