BANGKOK, Dec 14 — National swimmer Khiew Hoe Yean rode the waves of pressure to turn nerves into gold as he defended his men’s 200 metres freestyle title, completing a hat-trick of victories at the SEA Games Thailand 2025, here, yesterday.

The 23-year-old touched the wall in 1 minute 48.64 seconds (s), narrowly holding off his closest rival, Vietnam’s Tran Van Nguyen Quoc (1:48.70s), who had to settle for silver at the Swimming Pool, Sports Authority of Thailand.