FINA World Championships: Anum finishes last but breaks national record

Pakistan swimmer crashes out of 200m breaststroke semis in Barcelona.

KARACHI: Despite finishing last in the Fina World Championships 200-metre breaststroke category yesterday, Pakistan swimmer Anum Bandey managed to break the national record, according to information provided by the Pakistan Swimming Federation (PSF).

The Pakistan representative in the London Olympics 2012 recorded a time of two minutes and 55.65 seconds — improving the previous best of two minutes and 57.54 seconds set by Lianna Swan at the Asian Championship last year. However, she failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the 200m breaststroke event as all the other 35 contestants outpaced her in the preliminary round.

Although none of the four athletes – female swimmers Bandey and Swan, male swimmers Haris Bandey and Mazhar Naqvi – sent by the PSF, progressed to the semi-finals, three national records were broken. Swan managed to break two records with Bandey improving another record.

Waseem elected to FINA Masters Committee

Pakistan’s Major (Retd) Majid Waseem has been elected as an executive member of the Fina Masters Committee during the body’s Elective General Council Meeting in Barcelona on July 26, announced the PSF.

The election took place at the Fina Bureau Meeting on Wednesday where the official was inducted into the committee. Waseem already holds the posts of Asian Masters Committee chairman and associate secretary general of the Asia Swimming Federation.

Meanwhile, Sun Yang broke down in tears after claiming the second of a possible three distance golds with victory in the 800 metres freestyle and American teenager Missy Franklin captured her third title of the world swimming championships.

Olympic champion over 400 and 1,500 metres in London last year, Sun followed up Sunday’s world 400 title with an imperious performance at the hilltop Palau Sant Jordi, leading from the buzzer and pulling inexorably away in the final 150 metres.

“Before the race I felt huge pressure,” said Sun. “When I touched first I was relieved and, yes, a bit over-excited. The time was in the range I expected so I am totally satisfied.”

Sun is the second man after Australian Grant Hackett to win world titles at 400, 800, a non Olympic distance, and 1,500 metres.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2013.

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