KUALA LUMPUR: Swimmer Bryan Leong did his chances of being selected for the Paris Olympics no harm after breaking two national records at the AP Race London International which concluded yesterday (May 27).
Bryan clocked 22.91 seconds during the men's 50m freestyle heats on Saturday to erase his own national record of 23.07s which he had set at the same meet last year.
He went on to place eighth in the final on 23.20s.
The 21-year-old then clocked 24.08s in the men's 50m butterfly heats yesterday (May 27).
The time erased the national record of 24.14s that Chan Jie set at the Southeast Asian Age-Group Championships (Philippines) earlier this year.
Bryan would later finish sixth in the final on 24.20s.
He finished on the podium in the men's 100m butterfly after clocking 52.95s in the final.
Great Britain's James Guy took the silver on 52.59s while Czech Republic's Daniel Gracik won the gold (51.87s).
Malaysia is expected to receive two universality slots - one for each gender - for the Paris Olympics. Universality spots are better known as wildcards.
Khiew Hoe Yean, who has also broken two national records this year, and Bryan are now seen as the two main contenders for the men's slot.
Hoe Yean, however, will be competing at the Singapore National Championships next month and still has a chance to qualify on merit for Paris there.
Malaysia Aquatics secretary-general Andy Low said a decision will be made by the end of June.
"We will leave it to the Malaysia Aquatics swimming committee to decide on the universality slots. They will also look at the FINA rankings," said Andy.
"Having said that, the qualifying window for Paris is still open and there is still a chance to qualify on merit.
"A number of our swimmers will be heading to the Singapore National Championships next month."