Singapore's Yip Pin Xiu advances to women's 100m backstroke S2 final at Tokyo Paralympics

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Yip Pin Xiu came in first in her 100m backstroke S2 heat at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre on Wednesday (Aug 25) to qualify for the final.

In her fourth Paralympics appearance, the double world champion finished in a time of 2:14.46 and will defend her crown in the final at around 4.40pm Singapore time. 

Overall, Yip came in first in the 100m backstroke S2 heats.

China's Feng Yazhu placed second with a time of 2:32.44 while Japan's Yamada Miyuki came in third with a time of 2:34.35.

The Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC) commended Yip's season's best timing, adding that Singapore is "off to a flying start" at the Games. 

Yip is a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and holds the world record in the 50m backstroke S2 and the 100m backstroke S2.

Yip was also crowned Singapore's Sportswoman of the Year at the Singapore Disability Sports Awards earlier in August.

SOPHIE SOON'S PARALYMPICS DEBUT

In her Paralympics debut, swimmer Sophie Soon clocked a time of 1:28.61, coming in last in her women's 100m butterfly S13 heats.

She will not advance to the final, the SDSC said in a Facebook post. Soon will next compete in the women's 100m breaststroke SB12 Heats on Sep 1. 

Team Singapore is fielding 10 athletes across six sports for the Tokyo Paralympics, equalling the number of sports Singapore participated in at the last edition of the Games.

Four of these athletes, including Soon, will be participating for the first time.