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Tokyo Paralympics: Toh Wei Soong smashes his 50m freestyle national record

Singapore swimmer Toh Wei Soong competes in the men's 50m freestyle heats at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. (PHOTO: Sport Singapore)
Singapore swimmer Toh Wei Soong competes in the men's 50m freestyle heats at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. (PHOTO: Sport Singapore)

SINGAPORE — Singapore swimmer Toh Wei Soong broke his national record as he finished seventh in the men's 50m freestyle (S7) final at the Tokyo Paralympics on Tuesday (31 August).

The 22-year-old clocked 28.65 seconds to improve on his previous record of 29.01sec, which he had also equalled during the morning heats.

The Ukraine's Andrii Trusov won the tight race in 27.43sec, ahead of silver medallist Carlos Daniel Serrano Zarate of Colombia (27.84sec). Another Ukrainian, Yevhenii Bohodaiko, took home the bronze in 27.99sec.

Toh, who was diagnosed with the rare condition of transverse myelitis (inflammed spinal cord) which leads to weakness and numbness of the limbs, has one more event to go - the 50m butterfly (S7) on Friday.

Singapore cyclists Ang Kee Meng (left) and Steve Tee stop for a technical problem in the men's time trial road cycling event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. (PHOTO: Sport Singapore)
Singapore cyclists Ang Kee Meng (left) and Steve Tee stop for a technical problem in the men's time trial road cycling event at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. (PHOTO: Sport Singapore)

Cyclists' race bid derailed by broken chainring

Over at the Fuji International Speedway, Singapore cyclist Steve Tee, with pilot Ang Kee Meng, could not complete their road cycling event, the 32-kilometre men's time trial (Class B), due to a broken chainring on their tandem bicycle.

"We tried many times to fix it but it just kept coming off whenever we cycled for a few metres," Tee said.

France's Alexandre Lloveras won the gold medal in 41 minutes 54.02 seconds, while the Netherlands' Vincent ter Schure took the silver in 42:00.77. The bronze medal went to Spain's Christian Venge Balboa (42:52.12).

Tee and Ang had earlier set personal-best times in both their track cycling events - the men's 4,000m individual pursuit (Class B) and the men's 1,000m time trial (Class B).

"For us to realise a shared dream together, is something we will never ever forget," Ang said of the duo's maiden Paralympic experience. "We are looking ahead to the 2022 Asian Para Games in Hangzhou, where we will try to secure podium finishes in our track events."

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