Alkhaldi settles for silver

Jasmine Alkhaldi RAFFY LERMA/FILE PHOTO

Swimmer Jasmine Alkhaldi has been looking forward to meeting her chief rivals in the centerpiece 100-meter and 200m freestyle events of the forthcoming Southeast Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur.

The London and Rio De Janeiro Olympian has an ax to grind against Singapore’s Ting Wen Quah and Thailand’s Natthanan Junkrajang, both of whom she has yet to beat.

On Saturday, Alkhaldi’s desire for payback intensified further after settling for the silver medal in the women’s 200m free at the 48th Singapore National Age Group Swimming Championships.

Quah snatched the gold in 2:01.79 while the 24-year-old from Parañaque clocked 2:02.52 to qualify for the 17th Fina World Swimming Championships in Budapest this July.

Alkhaldi also took the silver in the 100m free behind Quah.
Junkrajang begged off from the event, but had beaten both swimmers in the 100m free finale during the 2013 SEA Games in Burma.

Alkhaldi actually won in the Burma meet but was forced to return the gold after organizers ordered a swim-off due to a false start. Junkrajang prevailed in the re-swim.