2025 Worlds, Day 2 Asia Recap: Ching Hwee Gan Makes Host Nation History

2025 World Championships

• July 27 – August 3, 2025 (pool swimming)
• Singapore, Singapore
• World Aquatics Championships Arena
• LCM (50m)
• Meet Central
• How To Watch
• SwimSwam Preview Index
• Entry Book
• Live Results
• Live Recaps
  • Prelims: Day 1 | Day 2
  • Finals: Day 1 | Day 2

The host nation of Singapore got a big boost on day two of the 2025 World Championships as Singapore’s Ching Hwee Gan not only broke a national record but she made swimming history.

Racing in the heats of the women’s 1500m freestyle this morning, 22-year-old Gan fired off a monster personal best of 16:01.29 to shave nearly 9 seconds off her previous PB and Singaporean standard. That rendered her the 4th-swiftest prelims performer overall, securing her spot in the final slated for tomorrow, Tuesday, July 29th.

Gan was so speedy that her opening 800m free split of 8:29.93 also established a new national record in that distance.

Fueled by the home crowd, Gan said of her performance, “It means the world to me (to clock a best time). Swimming in front of my friends and my family, I don’t think that many people I know have watched me live.

“I just wanted to do my best and kind of celebrate the wins that come along and thank them for their support.” (Channel News Asia)

Gan’s outing today makes her the first Singaporean woman to final at a World Aquatics Championships since Tao Li placed 7th in the 50m fly at the 2007 edition.

Gan’s standout swim here is a giant leap from when, as recently as 2017, the nation didn’t even field a women’s side to its Worlds roster. The men’s lineup only included 2 men that year.

Still, Singapore has been home to its fair share of swimming history – the 2009 World Cup was one of the final chapters of the polyurethane suits and a pile of World Records were set there.

Additionally, Joseph Schooling reaped Olympic gold, the nation’s first-ever, at the 2016 Games in Rio.

Teong Tzen Wei finished 8th in the men’s 50 fly at the 2022 World Championships in Budapest.

Now Gan is carrying the torch and helping build swimming momentum within the nation with the LA 2028 Games on the horizon. No Singaporean woman has ever finaled in swimming at the Olympics.

Additional Notes

• 2023 world champion Qin Haiyang was back on top, reaping gold in the men’s 100m breaststroke final this evening.
• World champion Hwang Sunwoo of Korea will try to make his 4th consecutive World Championships podium in the men’s 200m freestyle. He is positioned as the 2nd seed in 1:44.84 for tomorrow night’s main event.
• 34-year-old Satomi Suzuki of Japan made it into tomorrow night’s women’s 100m breaststroke final. The veteran enters as the 6th seed in 1:06.12.
• 12-year-old Yu Zidi of China finished a remarkable 4th in the 200m IM, arguably her weakest event. She’ll still contest the 200m fly and 400m IM with viable medal possibilities in both races.

Asian National/Continental Records

• Li Bingjie, Women’s 400m freestyle (3:58.21) – Chinese & Asian Records
• Ching Hwee Gan, Women’s 400m freestyle (4:09.82) – Singapore Record; Women’s 800m freestyle (8:29.93) – Singapore Record; Women’s 1500m free (16:01.29) – Singapore Record
• Denis Petrashov, Men’s 100m breaststroke (58.88) – Kyrgyzstani Record
• Samiul Islam Rafi, Men’s 100m backstroke (58.36) – Bangladeshi Record
• Enkhatmir Batbayar, Men’s 200m freestyle (1:50.26) – Mongolian Record; Men’s 100m backstroke (57.25) – Mongolian Record

Asian Medal Table Through Day Two of 2025 World Championships

Overall Medal Table Through Day Two of 2025 World Championships