Kazan, Russia. A 12-year-old swimmer from Myanmar was forced to swim alone in the heats of the men’s 100 meters breaststroke at the world championships before being roared home by an enthusiastic crowd at the Kazan Arena on Sunday.

Ahnt Khaung Htut found himself swimming the event on his own after his fellow competitors from Guinea and Cameroon pulled out of the opening heat.

“I loved it in there and I am so proud of being here,” said Htut, who has ambitions to swim at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Htut says he was invited to swim at the championships by world governing body FINA, who said that there is currently no age limit to compete at a championship or Olympic Games.

Htut is the second youngest swimming competitor at the championships behind 11-year-old compatriot Su Moe Theint San.

Despite the focus centering on lane four, Htut posted a personal best time of one minute 16.13 seconds, 17.61 seconds slower than the championship record mark posted by Britain’s Adam Peaty in the final heat.

Htut could have posted a quicker time but revealed that he had broken his wrist in the build-up to the event.

Showing the scar above his left hand, Htut said: “I did it in April when I ran in the swimming pool and slipped down.”

The 12-year-old, who started swimming at the age of six and idolizes China’s Sun Yang, posted the third slowest time in the heats, ahead of swimmers from Nepal and Lesotho.

Htut first competed at a major meeting as an 11-year-old at last year’s world short course championships in Doha.

Reuters

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Indonesian Taufik Hidayat. (EPA Photo/Yoan Valat)

Birmingham. The thought of watching “so-so” Indonesian singles players doesn’t sit well with Olympic champion Taufik Hidayat.

In a year when Jakarta stages the world championships for the first time since 1989, Taufik remains Indonesia’s last singles world champion in 2005.

The men’s team has found itself in an unstable position following the decision by three of its four top 40 players to leave the national set-up.

With Olympic qualification due to start on May 1, the Indonesian Badminton Association (PBSI) also has a decision to make on selection criteria ahead of Rio 2016.

World number 11 Tommy Sugiarto is the brightest prospect, but he left the national programme for the second time in January after failing to find the right balance of coaches.

Ricky Subagja, an Olympic doubles’ champion and the PBSI’s team manager at the All-England Championships this week, said that there were now eight junior players in the national team and prospects were bright.

“The PBSI are concerned for the players in the national team and we will have to look at the process (for Olympic qualification),” he told Reuters.

“We are really preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Games.”

Dionysius Hayom Rumbaka, Indonesia’s number two, beat a flu-ridden Sugiarto in an all-Indonesian first round clash at the All-England this week, but he is another who has opted to train away from the national programme.

“We still have several years to find the next Taufik,” admitted Dionysius.

“We can’t expect it as we aren’t in the national team, so maybe the juniors are the best place. If people think that I am the next Taufik, then it will be hard for me.”

At least Dionysius, the world number 23, admits that the lions’ den atmosphere at Jakarta’s iconic Istora Senayan Stadium will suit him when the world championships are held in August.

“It makes me feel spiritual to play in front of a home crowd. Some find the pressure too much, but I am really confident.”

It is a quality that Taufik, who retired in 2013, is searching for in a player.

“I want to watch a good quick player who is something special,” the 2005 world champion said.

Reuters

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