Yip Pin Xiu sets new S2 200m free world record at Australian Short Course Championships

National paralympic swimmer Yip Pin Xiu set a new world record of 4:57.81 for the Women’s S2 200m Free (Short Course) event on Thursday (Aug 25) at the 2022 Australian Short Course Championships.

The previous world record was set in 2007 by Spain’s Sara Carracelas, with a timing of 6:28.58.

The five-time world champion’s record timing earned her a gold medal finish at the event as well as 2,221 points in the Australian Multi-Class Point System (AMCPS). This puts her 1,040 points ahead of silver medalist Alexa Leary (S9) and 1,501 points ahead of Jade Lucy (S14), who both hail from Australia.

Pin Xiu, who broke the record in the morning heats with a timing of 5:00.99 before breaking it once more in the finals, also holds the current world records for the S2 50m and 100m Back long-course titles.

Fellow national para swimmer Danielle Moi (S14) also earned a medal on the first day of the meet. Despite finishing in last place in the 200m Free event, Danielle later bounced back in the 50m Fly event and earned a third place finish with a timing of 32.99s.

Two other Singaporean para swimmers – Darren Chan (S14, SB14 and SM14) and Wong Zhi Wei (S13, SB13, SM13) – are also set to compete in the Women’s S2 200m Free (Short Course) alongside Pin Xiu and Danelle on Saturday (Aug 27).

This marks the first time that all four of the para swimmers are competing in a short-course championship, which is part of preparations towards qualification for the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics.

The four-day event, which will end on Aug 27, is held at the Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre.

Over in Changwoon, South Korea, Singaporean para shooter Chan Han Siong Daniel advanced to the World Shooting Para Sports (WSPS) World Cup finals with a score of 563 in the Men’s 10m Air Pistol SH1 qualification rounds.

He eventually finished in fourth place overall with a score of 193.4.