Now for gold

Beijing - One could say Yip Pin Xiu was at a disadvantage from the start in yesterday's race for the 50 metres freestyle (S3 category) crown.

Unlike favourite and previous world record-holder Patricia Valle of Mexico, swimming the distance in the usually quicker front crawl (freestyle) would have been out of the question.

Born with muscular dystrophy, which does not allow her to straighten her fingers, the 16-year-old Singaporean's most efficient stroke is the backstroke.

Yet the Bendemeer Secondary 4 student almost created an upset at the Water Cube yesterday.

Having already smashed Valle's world record of 58.16sec in the morning heats with her 57.04sec, Pin Xiu was narrowly beaten to the gold yesterday evening.

Touching home in 57.43sec, she was just behind Valle's 57.05.

'I took one extra pull, otherwise I might have gotten gold,' Pin Xiu said after the race which, like any freestyle event, allows swimmers to chose whichever stroke they prefer.

But she reckoned the silver was still a bonus.

Because she is unable to curl her fingers around the grip at the starting blocks, she requires the aid of team manager Danny Ong before the start of every race.

Ong lets go of her wrists only when the race starts, and yesterday, it was also the cue for the pocket of Singapore fans to cheer wildly.

Up in the stands, her father Yip Chee Khiong, 53, a partner in a hardware firm, was so anxious he could barely speak.

He watched the entire race through the lens of his camcorder while his wife, Margaret Chong, 53, a senior officer at Singapore Airlines, cheered her on as she stood in front of a Singapore flag.

'My heart was going tick tock, tick tock,' said Yip after the race.

'More anxious than if I were swimming myself.'

Also in the stands were Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports) Teo Ser Luck and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, who later presented bouquets of flowers to Pin Xiu and her fellow medal winners at the prize ceremony.

Dr Balakrishnan later told reporters: 'For all of us here, cheering for them, we shouted just as loudly, our hearts beat just as fast, our hopes and disappointment are exactly the same as what we went through with the Olympics.'

With yesterday's feat, Pin Xiu, who also holds the world record for the 50m backstroke (1min 00.80sec) is aiming for nothing short of gold in the event's final tomorrow.

Pin Xiu, who also holds the world record for the 100m (S3) back (2:08.09), will also receive $50,000 in award money for her silver medal through the Singapore National Paralympic Council's Athletes Achievement Award.

But, given her form, she should be able to take home $100,000, which comes with a gold.

Athletes are rewarded only for the highest honour.

Her coach Ang Peng Siong said that she has been clocking faster and faster times - doing world- record times even during training.

And while he allowed himself a hug with Pin Xiu's parents yesterday, he knows their work is far from over.

'One more race, Monday,' he said with a smile.