Xiandi Chua delivers PH’s first swimming gold, sets new SEA Games record

SEA Games gold medalist Xiandi Chua at the podium.

PHNOM PENH—Xiandi Chua quickened the pace at the final turn to clinch the gold medal in the women’s 200-meter backstroke in record-shattering fashion at the swimming competitions of the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.

Chua touched the wall in two minutes and 13.20 seconds while Chloe Isleta arrived second in 2:16.19 in a gold-silver Philippine finish at the Morodok Aquatic Center.

Thailand’s Fonpray Yamsuan placed third in 2:17.95.

Chua reset the SEA Games standard in the event after breaking the 2:13.64 swim of Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, which the Vietnamese accomplished during the 2017 edition of the Games in Malaysia.

It was the country’s first swimming gold in this SEA Games. It was the same event that Isleta won last year in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Jasmine Alkhaldi also added a silver medal to the Philippines’ tally in the women’s 100m freestyle.

Chua and Alkhaldi are both part of the women’s 4×100m freestyle team that won the silver on Friday.