M'sia continue to lead medal tally at AUG

Malaysia continued to dominate proceedings on the fifth day of the Asean University Games (AUG) to remain at the top of the medal standings with 39 gold, 25 silver and 37 bronze medals.

The 39-gold tally achieved today also surpassed the Malaysian contingent's initial target of 36, when national swimmer Khoo Cai Lin won the women's 800m Freestyle event at the National Aquatic Centre.

Malaysia who were leading the overall standings yesterday with 29 gold medals, added another 10 gold, 4 silver and 10 bronze medals today to strengthen its position at the top.

Vietnam with 31 gold, 18 silver, 15 bronze are second while Thailand with 22 gold, 30 silver, 22 bronze are third while host Laos are fourth with 19 gold, 17 silver and 25 bronze medals.

Malaysia contingent chef-de-mission Prof Dr Yahaya Ibrahim said he was satisfied with the achievement of his athlete and set 45 gold medals as his revised target.

"We have surpassed the 36 target and I am optimistic that we can reach 45 which is the second target. I am confident that if the athletes can maintain the current momentum, we can achieve the new target in the next two days.

"Swimming and athletics have contributed largely to the country's medal tally. Silat also contributed two gold medals," he told reporters here today.

Malaysian swimmers fished out four gold medals from the pool while athletics (2), archery (2) and silat (2) joined the gold rush.

In swimming, apart from Cai Lin who clocked 9:06.01 to beat Chawiwan Khammee of Thailand, Siow Yi Ting added a brace by winning the 200m women's individual medley and 50m Breastroke while Kevin Yeap splashed his way to the men's 800m Freestyle.

In athletics, Muhammad Firdaus Mazlan ran a superb race to pull off a pleasant surprise by beating 2011 Indonesia SEA Games men's 400m hurdle gold medallist Dao Xuan Cuong from Vietnam.

Firdaus clocked 52.31s while second place winner Adrian from Indonesia clocked 52.44s while Dao finished in third place with a time of 52.46s.

Not to be outdone by her male counterpart, Casie Renie Helly Lee hurled the iron ball 47.48m to win the women's hammer throw, en route to beating Sunisa Boponprasarn from Thailand whose 47.07m distance earned her the silver.

The AUG draws down its curtain on Dec 20.