Siobhan Haughey fires warning to Asian Games rivals by shattering her own Hong Kong record
- The 25-year-old will take part in four individual events in Hangzhou as the city looks for its first Asian Games swimming gold medal
- ‘I’m just focusing on my own swimming,’ Haughey says after 50-metre freestyle victory at Hong Kong Open in Victoria Park on Saturday
Siobhan Haughey has fired a warning to her rivals she is ready to win Hong Kong’s first Asian Games swimming gold medal in Hangzhou next month, after smashing her own 50-metre freestyle record in Victoria Park on Saturday.
Nine years on from her last appearance at the regional Games, as a 16-year-old student in Incheon, the Tokyo Olympics double silver medallist looks unlikely to be beaten by any of her Asian competition in her two favoured events.
Haughey won silver and finished fourth, respectively, in the 100-metre and 200-metre freestyle at the World Championships in Fukuoka two weeks ago.
She will take part in four individual events in Hangzhou – the freestyle from 50 metres to 200 metres, and the 50-metre breaststroke – plus the relays. But the 25-year-old and the city’s swimming officials did not want to give a specific number when it comes to how many gold medals she is targeting.
“I’m trying not to think too much about it. I am just focusing on my own swimming,” Haughey said after posting a time of 24.44 seconds at the Hong Kong Open at Victoria Park Swimming Pool – her last event before departing for Hangzhou. Haughey set the previous Hong Kong 50-metre free record of 24.56 in May. The Asian record is 23.97.
“I have been back from Japan for two weeks and so far I’ve had really good training. If I can keep up the same preparation, I’m sure I can do well in Hangzhou.
“Both the 100-metre and 200-metre free are definitely my favourite events but you can never know who will suddenly swim really fast, or predict how other people will do. I am focusing on myself and seeing what I can do.”
