Yu Jing Won’t Slow Down For Chinese New Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 17 (Bernama) -- Young national swimmer Tong Yu Jing has been told to keep his “fin” sharp as he prepares for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this July.

The SEA Games bronze medallist said that despite the excitement of celebrating Chinese New Year, his coach has encouraged him to continue training and fine-tuning his technique to ensure faster finishes.

“Previously, I would spend more time with my family during Chinese New Year, but this time my coach told me to keep swimming every day.

“Probably swim in the morning, attend family gatherings, and then return for training...cannot stop,” he told Bernama.

The Penang-born swimmer secured his spot for the 2026 Commonwealth Games following his performances earlier this year.

Yu Jing made a statement in the pool at the Thailand SEA Games when he broke the national 50-metre freestyle record on his way to winning the bronze medal.

The 20-year-old clocked 22.48 seconds to erase Bryan Leong’s previous national record of 22.91s, a feat he admitted he did not expect.

Despite holding the national record, Yu Jing said he remains determined to improve further and is aiming to lower his time by at least 0.1 seconds.

Yu Jing added that while his training schedule remains intense, he would still take time to enjoy the Chinese New Year celebrations with his family, albeit in moderation, as he keeps his focus firmly on preparations for the Commonwealth Games.

-- BERNAMA