Assured of a place in the upcoming FINA World Championship after a record-breaking feat, India's Sandeep Sejwal today clinched his second gold medal in the 56th Malaysia Open Swimming Championship in Kuala Lumpur.
Sejwal clocked 28.87 secs to win the top prize in 50m breaststroke, a day after he booked his ticket to the Barcelona World Championship with a yellow metal in the 100-metre breaststroke.
Sejwal bagged the 100m breaststroke yesterday and also broke the meet record when he clocked 1:02.74 secs. The previous meet record was 1:03.05 seconds and the qualifying time for the world championship -- to be held in July -- was 1:02.99secs.
"I am really happy because he is competing in a tournament after more than seven months. This means he has started the season on a good note," Sejwal's coach, Nihar Ameen told PTI from Kuala Lumpur.
Meanwhile, Ashwin Menon (50m Back) and Shivangi Kataria (200m free) finished fourth.
Sejwal is the only Indian to qualify in three events having qualified in 50m and 200m at the Senior Nationals held in Pune last year.
India's 4x100m Medley relay comprising Ashwin Menon, Sejwal, Karan and Anshul Kothari won the silver medal.
Sejwal is the first Indian swimmer to enter the FINA Top 100 world rankings in three events.
