Re-swim ordered: Alkhaldi gold turns to bronze

NAY PYI TAW – With tears in her eyes, Jasmine Alkhaldi accepted the verdict.

“It’s all right, it’s all right,” said the Fil-American from the University of Hawaii before she left the dressing room, still sobbing, to accept her new medal, which turned from gold to bronze.

The technical committee of the Southeast Asian Games swimming competitions yesterday annulled the results of the 100m freestyle where Alkhaldi was awarded the gold and ordered a re-swim last night at the swimming pool of the Wunnum Theikdi National Sports Complex.

Alkhaldi, who won the event Thursday, timed 56.63 to take the bronze in the event won by Junghaying of Thailand in 56.2, followed by Quah Ting Wen of Singapore in 56.54.

Alkhaldi could not accept the decision even as she voluntarily returned the gold medal after Thursday’s awarding ceremonies.

Joshua Hall, from the Minnesota, duplicated the feat with a bronze medal finish in the 100m breaststroke in 1:03.32. R Matur of Thailand won the gold in 1:03.06 and Gunawan Indra of Indonesia the silver in 1:03.18.

Olympian Jessie King Lacuna finished fifth in the 100m freestyle in 51.52 seconds. Indonesia’s T. Sidiq took the gold in 49.99 seconds, Vietnamese Hoang Quy Phuoc the silver in 50.52 and Singapore’s Yeok the bronze in 50.83.

National coach Carlos “Pinky” Brosas said the technical committee made the announcement after swimming officials Thursday upheld the protest of Thailand, citing a false start by Alkhaldi in the event which the Filipina won.

Protesting the decision, Brosas told Philippine chef de mission Jeff Tamayo he would submit the swimming team’s stand on the decision of the technical committee.

Tamayo and Philippine Olympic Committee secretary general Steve Hontiveros signed the letter yesterday morning.

In the letter, addressed to Khin Mauwn Lwin, joint secretary general, and U Naw Taung, chairman of the sports and rules committee, Tamayo, based on Brosas’ report,  said an official “recall to restart” the race was never made after the starting horn sounded and there was no effort to stop the race.

Tamayo also argued that the officials at the false start area did not lower the false start rope to stop the race.

Informed of the situation Thursday night, swimming president and team manager Mark Joseph, who was in Manila, emailed a supporting letter to the same members of the technical committee advising them that a re-swim is not in the FINA (international swimming federation) rules. He said there was no disqualification because neither the starter nor the referee disqualified her.

Tamayo said he would also elevate the appeal to the Myanmar Organizing Committee, with copies to the SEA Games Federation Council, if the decision is not favorable to the Philippine team.

Fil-American Matt Navatta, swimming out of the University of South Carolina, placed fourth in the 400m individual medley also Thursday, first day of the five-day swimming competitions.

Navatta was scheduled to swim yesterday in the 200m individual medley.