KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor's Chan Jie proved he can still pack a punch despite leaving the national swimming programme.
The 28-year-old came close to rewriting his own national record in the men's 50m butterfly by 0.01s after settling for silver in the Malaysian Open at the National Aquatic Centre in Bukit Jalil on Thursday.
Chan Jie finished second with 24.15s behind Denmark's Rasmus Nickelsen, who posted 23.72s. Both swimmers dipped under the Malaysian Open meet record of 25.51s set by Namibia's Ronan Zuberg Wantenaar last year.
He set the new national record in the men's 50m butterfly after clocking 24.14s in February to rewrite the previous record of 24.35s set by Bryan Leong at the World University Games in Chengdu last year.
Chan Jie, who competed in the 2017 and 2019 Sea Games, quit the national team to focus on finishing his studies but he continued to train on his own while doubling up as a swimming coach during the weekends.
"I also train under a coach (Francis Kiu). However, I am no longer with the national team as I can't follow their programme due to my work commitments," he said.
"Maybe, there is no pressure to perform to certain expectations, and surprisingly, I am going faster than before when I was younger...I guess I am enjoying the sport more."
Penangite Lim Yin Chuen, Sarawak's Hii Puong Wei, and Kuala Lumpur duo Dhuha Zulfikry and Chong Xin Lin - were the only local swimmers to win gold on the first day of the Malaysian Open.
The 24-year-old Yin Chuen was pleased to win the 100m freestyle in 50.19s ahead of Terengganu's Arvin Shaun Singh, who picked up the silver (50.50s) and Dane Nickselsen who took the bronze (50.69s).
"I am surprised I can get a personal best in the 100m freestyle as we actually have not tapered for this Malaysian Open," said Yin Chuen, who won the silver and bronze for Malaysia at the Cambodia Sea Games last year.
"Our main goal is to get ready for the Singapore national championships next month, so I guess I can improve more."
Dhuha won the men's 1,500m freestyle race (15:54.22s) while Puong Wei came out tops in the men's 100m backstroke (58.43s). Xin Lin was the only local winner in the women's 100m backstroke (1:04.11s).
RESULTS (ALL FINALS)
Men
50m butterfly: 1 Rasmus Nickelsen (Den) 23.72, 2 Chan Jie (Sel) 24.15, 3 Diggory Dillingham (US) 24.83;
100m freestyle: 1 Lim Yin Chuen (Pen) 50.19, 2 Arvin Shaun Singh (Ter) 50.50, 3 Rasmus Nickelsen (Den) 50.69;
100m backstroke: 1 Hii Puong Wei (Swk) 58.43, 2 Samiul Islam Rafi (Ban) 59.92, 3 Jeff Chua (Swk) 1:00.08;
200m breaststroke: 1 Ronan Zuberg Wantenaar (Nam) 2:16.48, 2 Andrew Goh (Sel) 2:17.07, 3 Joseph Chan (Mel) 2:19.35;
1500m freestyle: 1 Dhuha Zulfikry (Kul) 15:54.22, 2 Ali Jafari (Iri) 16:06.66, 3 Goh Li Hen (Sel) 16:16.76;
Women
50m butterfly: 1 Natalie Suyin Buckley (Kul) 28.42, 2 Enkhkhuslen Batbayar (Mgl) 28.51, 3 Megan Ho (Kul) 28.53;
100m freestyle: 1 Enkhkhuslen Batbayar (Mgl) 56.64, 2 Serenna Karmelita Muslim (Ina) 58.51, 3 Lynna Yeow (Mel) 59.63;
100m backstroke: 1 Chong Xin Lin (Kul) 1:04.11, 2 Idealy Diaritiana Tendrinavalon (Mac) 1:08.69, 3 Rainee Foo (Sel) 1:08.69;
200m breaststroke: 1 Thea Blomsterg (Den) 2:26.61, 2 Phee Jinq En (Sel) 2:33.86, 3 Tan Rouxin (Joh) 2:36.85;
800m freestyle: 1 Enkhkhuslen Batbayar (Mgl) 8:57.64, 2 Jehanara Nabi (Pak) 9:24.07, 3 Hashika Ramachandra (Ind) 9:32.04.