Debutante partners strike gold

Despite partnering each 
other for the first time, 
national synchronised swimmers Carolyn Rayna Buckle and Miya Yong Hsing still managed to win the B Division duet event yesterday on the first day of the National Schools Synchronised Swimming Championships at Toa Payoh Swimming Complex.

Carolyn and Miya, both 15, representing Methodist Girls' School, emerged tops with 66.9333 points.

Sara Cher and Valerie Ting of Singapore Chinese Girls' School claimed second place, and their schoolmates Lim Jia Ching and Jocelyn Wong were third.

"It's our first time competing together as a duet pair," said Carolyn.

"But in the national team, we train six times a week and we have been friends since Primary 2, so it was not difficult to work together as a pair."

Their national teammate Debbie Soh, 17, represented the Singapore Sports School and won the A Division solo event with 73.6000 points.

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Cleona Zhu and Macey Soh of Anglo-Chinese Junior College were second and third respectively.

"I had only two or three weeks to train for the solo category after the South-east Asia (SEA) Games," Debbie said.

"But I'm happy with how I did. I think I've improved from last year as my score is higher this time."

The gold-winning SEA Games swimmers performed between events and left an impression on the other competitors, with many queuing up to receive autographed posters of the team during two meet-and-greet sessions.

"We do look up to them for inspiration," said Kathryn Chong, 16, of Singapore Chinese Girls' School.

She had competed with her duet partner Phuong Hoang Linh, 16, in the B Division duet event.

"We ask them for advice on how to train as well."